You can watch NBC News NOW live for free at NBCNews.com/now, in the NBC News app, on NBC News’ YouTube channel and on free TV services such as Pluto TV, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus and The Roku Channel. You don’t need cable or a login. Peacock also carries it, but Peacock is a paid service.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- NBC News NOW is NBC News’ free, ad-supported streaming network. It launched on May 29, 2019, and now runs around the clock.
- Since April 2026 it carries 14 hours of live weekday programming, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, according to TheWrap.
- NBC News lists NBCNews.com/now, its app, YouTube, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi and Peacock among the places to watch.
What is NBC News NOW?
NBC News NOW is a streaming-only news channel run by NBC News. It is not a simulcast of the NBC broadcast network, and it isn’t the cable channel MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). Instead, it has its own anchors, its own rundown and a younger, digital-first audience in mind.
The channel started on May 29, 2019, with a few hours of live shows each afternoon and evening. It has grown a lot since then. In April 2026, NBC News expanded live weekday coverage to 14 hours a day, TheWrap reported. By the summer, the channel’s main home was Studio 3A at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, according to NewscastStudio.
One ownership note helps clear up confusion. In January 2026, Comcast spun off most of its cable networks, including CNBC and MS NOW, into a new company called Versant. NBC, Peacock and Sky stayed with Comcast, and NBC News still promotes NBC News NOW as its free streaming network in its October 2026 press releases.
Where can you watch NBC News NOW live for free?
The short answer: almost anywhere you already stream. NBC News’ own help page and its recent announcements list these official outlets.
| Where | Cost | How to find it |
|---|---|---|
| NBCNews.com/now | Free | Open the page in any browser; the stream starts on the page |
| NBC News app (iPhone, iPad, Android) | Free stream | Download the app and tap the live channel |
| YouTube (NBC News channel) | Free | Look for the “Live” tab on the official NBC News channel |
| Pluto TV | Free | Search “NBC News NOW” in the live guide |
| Tubi | Free | Open the Live TV section |
| Samsung TV Plus | Free | Built into Samsung smart TVs and phones |
| The Roku Channel | Free | Live TV guide on Roku devices and therokuchannel.com |
| Xumo, LG Channels, Local Now | Free | Listed by NBC News as supported platforms |
| Peacock | Paid (no free tier) | Channels section of the Peacock app |
| Hulu + Live TV | Paid | Included with the live TV plan |
So for most people, the cheapest route is also the simplest. Open the NBC News app or the website, and you’re watching in seconds. If you prefer a TV guide that looks like cable, a free service like Pluto TV or Tubi puts NBC News NOW next to dozens of other free channels.
How do you watch NBC News NOW live on your TV?
Every major streaming device works, according to NBC News. That includes Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, plus LG and Samsung smart TVs. The steps differ only slightly.
Roku
You have two choices. Add the NBC News app from the Roku Channel Store, or open The Roku Channel and browse its Live TV guide for the news section. Our guide to news channels on Roku covers the other free options there too.
Fire TV
Search for “NBC News” on the home screen and install the app. Alternatively, install Pluto TV or Tubi, both of which carry the channel for free. For more, see our live news on Fire TV guide.
Apple TV, Google TV and smart TVs
Install the NBC News app from the device’s app store. On a Samsung TV, you can also skip the app and use Samsung TV Plus, which is already built in. LG owners can use LG Channels in the same way.
What’s on NBC News NOW?
NBC News NOW mixes rolling live coverage with a handful of anchored shows. Here is the weekday core, based on NBC News announcements and trade reports from mid-to-late 2026.
| Show | Time (ET) | Time (GMT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning News Now | 7–10 a.m. | 12–3 p.m. | Morning headlines and breaking news |
| Current with Christine Romans | 10 a.m.–noon | 3–5 p.m. | Launched August 3, 2026 |
| Top Story with Tom Llamas | 7 p.m. | Midnight | Evening newscast from the NBC Nightly News anchor |
GMT times assume US Eastern Time is five hours behind London, which is true from early November to early March. Live programming runs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on weekdays. Outside those hours, the stream carries replays and packaged reports. Schedules change, so check the guide in your app for the day’s lineup.
Election night coverage
NBC News says NBC News NOW is part of its plans for the November 3 midterm elections, with coverage across streaming platforms including Peacock. Our election night livestream guide compares the free options for that night.
Do you need Peacock to watch NBC News NOW live?
No. Peacock carries NBC News NOW, but it’s optional. Peacock has no free plan, and its prices went up in August 2026. Droid Life reported new rates of $8.99 a month for Select, $12.99 for Premium and $19.99 for Premium Plus.
Peacock makes sense if you also want NBC shows, sports or the live NBC network. If you only want the news channel, though, the free routes above give you the same stream.
Can you watch NBC News NOW outside the US?
Possibly, but it depends on the platform. Pluto TV’s NBC News NOW listing sits on its US site, and Peacock is mainly a US service. So those may not work abroad.
In March 2022, NBC News announced that NBC News NOW would be carried on Sky and Virgin Media in the UK at no extra cost. It also said its apps carried the stream in more than 175 countries. We could not confirm that both deals are still in place in 2026, so check your own Sky or Virgin Media guide.
The NBC News app and the YouTube channel are the likeliest options outside the US. Rights vary by country, though. We only recommend official services, so if a stream isn’t offered where you live, try another free channel instead. Our guide to watching US news channels abroad lists what is available in each region.
How does it compare with other free news streams?
NBC News NOW is one of several free, ad-supported news channels from the big US networks. ABC and CBS run their own versions, and Fox has a free live-events channel.
- ABC News Live is ABC’s free 24/7 stream.
- CBS News 24/7 is the CBS equivalent.
- LiveNOW from FOX focuses on raw, unedited live events.
Each has a slightly different style. NBC News NOW leans on anchored shows and the network’s correspondents, for example. You can see every channel we cover on our Channels page, or browse all channel guides.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We’re building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development — follow NewsLive for launch updates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NBC News NOW live stream really free?
Yes. NBC News says the channel is always free at NBCNews.com/now. It is supported by ads, so you’ll see commercials, but there’s no subscription or cable login.
Is NBC News NOW the same as MS NOW or MSNBC?
No. MS NOW, the network formerly called MSNBC, is a separate cable channel. Since January 2026 it belongs to Versant, while NBC News NOW comes from NBC News.
Can I watch NBC News NOW live on Roku?
Yes. Use the NBC News app or The Roku Channel’s free Live TV guide. Both are official.
Does NBC News NOW show the NBC network live?
No. NBC News’ help page notes that it is not a livestream of NBC network programming. To watch your local NBC station, you need an antenna, a live TV service or Peacock in markets where it carries your station.
What time is Top Story with Tom Llamas?
It airs at 7 p.m. ET on NBC News NOW, according to NBC News. That’s midnight in London during the winter months.
