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Quick Guide: How to Watch NBC Sports from Anywhere

Wondering how to watch NBC Sports now that NBCUniversal has closed down the NBC Sports channel? Your favorite content and coverage have moved to the online streaming service Peacock. Some content has also moved to NBC’s sibling company, the USA Network.

Sadly, you’ll be blocked from accessing both Peacock and USA Network if you’re not in the US. But don’t fret; there’s an easy workaround. We’ve used a VPN to get a US IP address and unblock our Peacock account even though we’re in Europe — and you can, too.

Here’s how:

  1. Choose a VPN suited for live sports. For high-definition NBC Sports content, we use and can recommend Surfshark.
  2. Create your account on the VPN provider’s website.
  3. Download the VPN onto your favorite streaming device. Surfshark works with all major operating systems, including Windows, Android, macOS and iOS.
  4. Connect to a server in the U.S.
  5. Navigate to Peacock TV to access NBC Sports content.

If you want to learn more about NBC Sports and how to access Peacock and USA Network from anywhere in the world, keep reading below!

NBC Sports is huge with sports fans in the United States, with big-ticket events like the Premier League, US Open, and NFL. Since there’s no official NBC Sports channel anymore, all NBC Sports content is livestreamed on Peacock. However, if you’re traveling away from home or simply live elsewhere, you can’t access the service.

Like other US streaming services, Peacock blocks foreign IP addresses. Trying to sign into Peacock and watch NBC Sports live from abroad? You’ll see an error message instead, leaving you without access to your account. We get the same problem trying to access Peacock from the Netherlands.

The good news is we’ve successfully unblocked Peacock from abroad by using a VPN! Want to watch NBC Sports from outside the US? Just grab our recommended VPN provider, Surfshark, for $ 2.19 off, and change your IP address now!

How to Watch NBC Sports Live Using a VPN

World globe icon

Peacock won’t work outside the US because broadcasting agreements prohibit it. By using your IP address, websites can determine your real location in the world and choose whether or not to block your access to online sports channels.

So, in theory, if you’re outside the U.S., you’re out of luck when it comes to streaming live TV or on-demand content with Peacock, Sling TV, or FuboTV.

Or are you? We’ve tested a handful of VPN providers with Peacock, and we’ve been able to watch NBC Sports from Europe without cable!

Step-by-step guide: How to watch NBC Sports worldwide with a VPN

Want to access NBC Sports content no matter where you are in the world? We’ll show you how in our quick guide below:

  1. Choose a solid VPN for streaming HD sports. When it comes to accessing NBC Sports content, we can recommend Surfshark. It’s got more than 3200+ servers in 100 countries, with 600+ of those servers in the U.S.
    Surfshark
    Deal

    Save 86% and pay only $ 2.19 a month!

    From
    $ 2.19
    9.0
    • Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
    • 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
    • Cheap with many extra options
    Visit Surfshark
  2. Create your account on the VPN provider’s website.
  3. Download the VPN on your favorite streaming device. Surfshark works with all major operating systems, including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. We’ve even tested installing it on an Amazon Fire Stick.
  4. Install the VPN software by following the installation wizard. Log in with the credentials you created at sign-up.
  5. Connect to a server in the U.S.

    Screenshot of Surfshark, US servers
  6. Once connected, navigate to Peacock. You can also use Surfshark with Sling TV or another preferred NBC streaming platform.
  7. Find the NBC Sports programming you’re looking for! What are you in the mood for?

How to Watch NBC Sports Without Cable

Movie clap and red box of popcorns icon

The NBCSN (NBC Sports Network) channel was closed down in 2021 and rolled into USA Network and Peacock, the online streaming service. So, if you want to stream NBC Sports without cable, you’ll need to follow our guides below.

How to stream NBC Sports Gold

Screenshot of Peacock TV with logo

NBC Sports Gold content was moved to NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service. The good news is NBC has moved the majority of its sports programming to Peacock too, so this also gets you access to other major sports events too.

Though it has a free tier, you’ll need to pay $4.99 per month for premium access to watch sports. You can also pay $9.99 per month for fewer ads.

On Peacock Premium, you can watch live events, like:

  • NFL Sunday Night Football
  • All Premier League soccer matches
  • All WWE premium live events like Wrestlemania and Summer Slam, and Raw and SmackDown
  • All Notre Dame college football games
  • Motorsports like NASCAR, IMSA, Nitro RallyCross, IndyCar and MotoGP
  • Select Major League Baseball games
  • Rugby World Cup and seasonal games
  • PGA Major tournaments (like the US Open)

Not in the United States? You can also get Peacock and NBC Sports on NOW TV and Sky in the United Kingdom. If you’re elsewhere in the world, we recommend downloading Surfshark and connecting to a VPN server in the US or the UK.

Other ways to watch NBC Sports content

NBC Sports streams can be found on other US streaming platforms too. Peacock’s our first choice thanks to its affordable subscriptions and so many ways to access it.

Note that all the providers below need a US VPN server.

Streaming ServiceStarting FromFree Trial?
Fubo$79.99/month7 days
DirecTV Stream$69.99/month5 days
Sling TV$40/monthNo
Hulu + Live TV$7.99 to 17.99/monthUp to 30 days
YouTube TV$72.99/monthOccasionally (up to 30 days)

The Best VPNs for Streaming NBC Sports Abroad

Best VPN for streaming icon

When it comes to streaming NBC Sports in HD, you need a VPN with fast connections, fast streaming speeds, and reliable U.S. servers. As huge sports fan ourselves, we put the best premium VPN providers to the test, streaming huge tournaments like this year’s Premier League, to see how they perform.

Below, you’ll find our own personal recommendations for the best VPN for streaming NBC Sports from anywhere. We’ve used all of these with Peacock to watch NBC Sports, NBA TV, MLB Network shows, and more!

1. Surfshark: Best all-around for NBC Sports (Peacock and USA Network)

Screenshot of Surfshark VPN provider website homepage
  • 3200+ worldwide servers, including 600 servers in the US, for unblocking Peacock
  • Five static IP options in the United States for a more stable unblocking experience
  • One of the fastest VPNs available — retained up to 95% of our connection speed during tests
  • 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free sports streaming

For live streaming HD sports, Surfshark has become our go-to VPN. If you’re looking for a lightning-fast VPN that lets you stream your NBC Sports favorites without buffering, lags, delays, and freeze-ups, this is our recommendation. In recent testing circuits, Surfshark emerged as one of the fastest VPNs available in our speed tests.

Surfshark also offers a free option to use a “Static IP,” which is a variation of a dedicated IP address. Instead of rotating and randomizing your IP address every time you connect to a server, it gives you the same IP address to use each time. This improves unblocking and makes it less likely for an IP to get blacklisted, and you won’t have to go through as many verification processes.

You can get Surfshark at an 86% discount, meaning your subscription will only cost you $ 2.19 per month! Use our link below.

For more information on Surfshark, check out our detailed review.


2. NordVPN: A strong runner-up for watching NBC Sports online

Screenshot of NordVPN provider website homepage
  • 6441 worldwide servers, with 1,900+ US servers
  • Dedicated IP addresses for the best unblocking experience
  • Manually select servers to find the fastest or closest option for you
  • 30-day money-back VPN free trial available

Don’t be fooled by its top 2 ranking. NordVPN is no slouch when it comes to watching NBC Sports content or any other HD streams for that matter. As far as speeds go, it can certainly hold its own and is right up there with the fastest VPN providers. Its US network is also quite impressive, boasting 6441 servers at optimum speeds.

NordVPN also offers useful dedicated IPs to improve unblocking and avoid extra verifications and other roadblocks. Many US-based online television streamers don’t actively block VPNs at the moment, but you never know when they might change their tune.

Try NordVPN’s servers for yourself by taking advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee! Plus, get a discount using the link below.

NordVPN is our #1 VPN of all time. Find out why in this extensive review.


3. CyberGhost: Dedicated streaming servers for NBC Sports

Screenshot of Cyberghost provider website homepage
  • 11700+ global servers, with a massive 1,300+ servers in the States
  • Excellent streaming speeds that delivered HD sports streams in our test circuit
  • 45-day money-back guarantee is the longest VPN free trial available
  • Dedicated streaming servers guarantee a high-definition streaming experience without lag
  • Dedicated IP addresses also available to ensure unblocking success

CyberGhost is another excellent option for live sports streaming and works well with most platforms. It even has optimized servers for watching specific streaming services.

For instance, CyberGhost offers servers for Peacock TV and Hulu — both of which give access to NBC Sports. If that isn’t enough to satisfy your sports appetite, it also has specific servers for many other sports streams, such as Globo SporTV and Fox Sports.

In total, it offers optimized servers for 60 different streaming services, which is quite impressive. It also has the longest money-back guarantee of any VPN: 45 days!

As you’ll see in our CyberGhost review, we were very happy with the service. CyberGhost just makes it oh, so easy to stream.


4. Private Internet Access: Enormous server network for unblocking choice

PIA homepage, focused on streaming benefits
  • Largest VPN server network available — 35000 worldwide servers
  • 30-day money-back guarantee to try PIA without risk
  • PIA’s “50 Servers in 50 States” campaign has delivered a robust US server network
  • Strong connection speeds during our sports streaming test circuit

While this recommendation is coming in at number four, we regularly use PIA for streaming sports. Ever wanted to find a niche stream for an event that’s less heavily televised? PIA has the biggest server network in the VPN industry. It’s often helped us find servers in less common locations for really niche sporting events.

That aside, you get all of the bells and whistles offered by other premium VPNs. This includes leak protection, a kill switch, and 256-bit encryption to keep your data secure.

So, if you’re having trouble finding a server in a particular location, we recommend giving Private Internet Access a try! Right now, you can snag 81% off an already cheap subscription!

Think PIA is the VPN for you? Find out more in our PIA review.


5. ExpressVPN: Longstanding VPN powerhouse for sports streaming

Screenshot of ExpressVPN's homepage, focused on streaming
  • thousands of global VPN servers to help you unblock NBC Sports and other streams
  • 30-day money-back promise to try the service without risk
  • Recently upgraded 10 GB servers deliver powerful connections for sports streaming
  • Very good choice for VPN beginners who need a simple interface

Again, ranking ExpressVPN at number five doesn’t mean that it’s a subpar service. On the contrary, this is one of the longest-running VPN providers in the industry.

Though it’s also one of the most expensive, we really recommend that VPN newcomers give ExpressVPN a try. Its interface is possibly one of the most user-friendly pieces of software we’ve used, especially for people new to VPNs.

ExpressVPN packs a lot of power under the hood. This includes excellent streaming connection speeds and a network of thousands of servers worldwide that’s more than sufficient for streaming sports!

While it’s a bit pricier than the alternatives, you can knock 49% off ExpressVPN with this time-limited deal.

ExpressVPN is one of the most trusted VPNs in the industry. Check out our review to find out more.


How to Set Up a VPN to Watch NBC Sports

Another great thing about Surfshark, CyberGhost, and NordVPN is that they can be used on pretty much any device. If you’re in Cancún, Mexico, and want to watch Sunday Night Football, you can stream NBC Sports on your Windows PC, or you can pull up the Peacock app on your iPhone and stream at the poolside bar.

Our team put together guides on how to install VPNs on all major operating systems, so you’ll have your bases covered. Here are a few of our key guides.

Desktop (Windows and macOS)

  1. Register for an account with your preferred VPN. We wholeheartedly recommend Surfshark for its fast, reliable speeds and impressive server network.
    Surfshark
    Deal

    Save 86% and pay only $ 2.19 a month!

    From
    $ 2.19
    9.0
    • Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
    • 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
    • Cheap with many extra options
    Visit Surfshark
  2. Download and install the VPN on your device. Follow the on-screen instructions of the installation wizard. Surfshark is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and more.
  3. Connect to a US server, and start streaming your favorite games!

For the tech-savvy, we also have a guide for setting up a VPN manually on Windows and Mac.

Smartphones (Android and iOS)

  1. Find your VPN of choice on the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS). Surfshark’s official app is available in both of these stores.
    Surfshark
    Deal

    Save 86% and pay only $ 2.19 a month!

    From
    $ 2.19
    9.0
    • Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
    • 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
    • Cheap with many extra options
    Visit Surfshark
  2. Download and install the app.
  3. Register for a new account or log into an existing account.
  4. Connect to a US server, and start watching on Peacock!

Other devices

  • Android TV and smart TVs: If you install a VPN on your Windows device, you can create a mobile hotspot and connect your VPN to your Smart TV. We’ve broken down how to install a VPN on your Smart TV step-by-step.
  • Router: If you’re looking to secure your entire Wi-Fi connection and not just individual devices, we’ve put together an explainer on how you can install a VPN on your router.
VPN on a router connection infographic

Upcoming Events on NBC Sports in 2024

We love our sports, which is why we’ve been keeping a close eye on the upcoming NBC Sports schedule. You might want to share in all the action, so here’s our recommendation of some of the biggest-name events you won’t want to miss!

Event2024 Dates
Paris 2024 OlympicsWednesday, July 24 to Sunday, August 11
PGA TourThursday, January 4 to Sunday, September 1
2024 ParalympicsWednesday, August 28 to Sunday, September 8
KFT (Korn Ferry Tour)Sunday, January 14 to Sunday, October 6
2024 IMSA Weathertech Sportscar ChampionshipSunday, January 21 to Saturday, October 12

Wrap-up: Stream NBC Sports Online Easily with a VPN

Though NBC Sports is spread out now, it’s still fairly easy to access their content if you know where to look. All you’ll need is a Peacock account or access to streaming TV providers like Sling TV, which has NBC Sports app content on the USA Network or NBC.

The great thing about Peacock is you’ll also get live access to heaps of other sporting content. The CBS Sports Network is available too, which will let you watch Super Bowl LVIII in 2024!

We’ve tested and can recommend 5 VPNs for streaming NBC Sports, but our personal top recommendation is Surfshark. This VPN delivered lightning-fast speeds and a strong, stable server network. Best of all, it’s 86% off right now!

If you find yourself unable to access these for any reason, there’s always an option to check out free streaming websites to look for your favorite games, matches, and sports.

For more reading on unblocking or watching sports for free, you may want to check out these guides below:

How to Watch NBC Sports Online: Frequently Asked Questions

Got a specific question about watching NBC Sports online? Just check out our FAQ below. If you can’t find your question, be sure to leave us a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

How can I watch NBC Sports for free?

To watch NBC Sports for free, you’ll need to take advantage of free trials offered by TV streaming platforms like FuboTV or YouTube TV. Alternatively, there are also plenty of free sports streaming sites online that might have the games, matches, and sports you’re looking for.

Where can I stream NBC Sports?

To get access to NBC Sports, you need a premium subscription to NBC’s streaming platform Peacock TV. You can also use TV streamers like Sling TV, FuboTV or Hulu + Live TV to get NBC Sports content. If you unblock Peacock with a VPN, it’s available anywhere in the world.

Can I just get NBC Sports?

You can’t sign up for NBC Sports alone. You’ll need to get a premium subscription to Peacock TV to access most NBC Sports content. You can go to the NBC Sports website, but to watch any live events or full recaps you’ll need to provide details of your cable, satellite, or online TV subscription. Alternatively, you can use a streaming service that includes NBC Sports — aside from Peacock, there’s also Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or FuboTV.

How do I activate NBC Sports without a TV provider?

The easiest way to activate and watch NBC Sports without a TV provider is through Peacock. Most of NBC Sports’ content has been moved to Peacock since the closure of the NBC Sports channel. The best part is you can watch Peacock anywhere in the world and take it on vacation with you!

What is the cheapest way to get NBC Sports?

The cheapest way to get NBC Sports is by getting a Peacock premium subscription. Note that Peacock Premium doesn’t include all sports from the NBC Network, but it does offer a solid selection of live sports, including Premier League games, Indycar, cycling, golf, Sunday Night Football, NASCAR, and more. It’s the least expensive option and even offers a free trial.

Is NBC Sports free on Firestick?

No, NBC Sports isn’t free on Firestick, but you can get a Peacock free trial and install it on your Firestick to watch free for a limited time. You’ll need an active subscription to a Firestick sports streaming app for any NBC content, including:

  • Peacock (Recommended)
  • Sling TV
  • Fubo
  • Hulu + Live TV
  • DirecTV Stream
  • YouTube TV

Not in the US? Our team’s prepared a guide to getting a US IP address from anywhere in the world to unblock these platforms.

Can I watch the Super Bowl on NBC Sports app?

No, for 2024, the Super Bowl rotation is in the hands of CBS. You’ll have to watch Super Bowl LVIII on CBS channels or sports streaming platforms. Fortunately, Peacock also offers CBS sports streams, too!

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