Table Of Content
nbcsports.com
NBC is widely considered to be one of the most comprehensive networks when it comes to sports action, alongside ABC, Fox, and CBS. While all of the other three networks have their own independent streaming services that allow them to navigate the streaming market, NBC seems to be holding its own. Although they have an app, NBC's streaming platform isn't as extensive as CBS's All Access.
Multiple ways to stream the channel
What's amazing about NBC Sports is that you can consume its content across various devices via different service packs. You don't need traditional equipment and bulky wiring, all you need is an internet connection and a subscription to a major streaming service provider such as Hulu+, Live TV, Sling TV, AT&T Now or YouTube TV. If you have a subscription to any of these services, you can access NBC Sports without cable.
Cord-cutting doesn?t necessarily cut the access
Canceling cable can be tough, as 90% of the US population still relies on cable and satellite TV connections. However, if you're primarily interested in sports content, there are plenty of alternative options available without spending a hefty $80-$150 on a monthly basis.
Skinny Bundles - Most lucrative option
If you're not familiar with skinny bundles, let me give you a quick overview. They are slimmed down packages that offer live channels primarily focused on OTT content. Through these packages, you only pay for the content that matters to you, without being tied down to a contract.
History
NBC Sports is owned and operated by NBC Sports Group, a division of NBCUniversal. Based in America, NBC provides sports broadcasts on its network and is one of the leading national sports cable channels. Years ago, NBC Sports was part of the NBC news division and was tasked with airing a diverse range of sports, such as NASCAR, the NFL, NHL, French Open, Olympic Games, English Premier League and Tour De France among many other events.
After Comcast acquired it in 2011, their own cable sports networks were aligned to NBC Sports and thus a new network was formed under the banner - NBC Sports Group.
Design
The search result snippet with sports categories listed in the search engine caught my eye before even visiting the website. There were six major options - Watch, NHL, NFL, NBA, Soccer and NBC Sports Gold. This provided me with a fair idea about what I should expect on the website. Once I landed on the website however, it took some time to get used to the interface.
This makes it easier to navigate the website and find the information that you are looking for. We have also included smaller headlines throughout to make it easy to scan through quickly.
Since NBC Sports is such a large network, it was difficult to find what you were looking for on their website. We'll help you by dissecting each of the sections and simplifying the overall layout. So, on your initial visit, you'll notice the menus in black and grey. This makes it easier to navigate the website and find the information that you're looking for. We've also included smaller headlines throughout so that you can scan through them quickly.
The black menu has a dozen categories, including Watch, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, Soccer, NCAA FB, Nascar, Motorsports, Golf and the Olympics. Beneath that is a gray menu with specific options- Betting, Golds and Odds, Olympic Channel and USA. The search bar is also accessible from this menu.
The first is an overview of the festival, which is followed by a list of artists and their bios. The third section has all the food menus broken down by type and vendor, while the fourth showcases local drinks and merchandise.
These menus look decent and don't irritate users. As you scroll down, you get a fairly random hero section with lots of white space between the header and the schedule. Now, though I get that it's the ad space, it does look off. After the schedule, there's the main content section which is divided into four segments. The first is an overview of the festival, which is followed by a list of artists and their bios. The third section has all the food menus broken down by type and vendor, while the fourth showcases local drinks and merchandise.
The Watch Now section is on the left and has options such as Live and Upcoming Events. The second section has a video highlights of a recent sports action. Besides that, you?ll find a highlight section which is the combination of video and text content providing reports on upcoming games and also the ones that have been concluded. Lastly, on the right, there?s a pure News section that has the top headlines followed by numerous titles which basically indicate the most read scoop of that particular day.
I wasn't too impressed with the homepage layout of NBC Sports, but the inner pages did catch my attention for a few seconds. Aside from the poor ad placement, the slider banners on this page looked user-friendly. The design and content placement didn't hamper my browsing experience in any way.
Content
If you live in the United States, it's likely that you already watch a lot of the sports content on this network. It has a lot of content, covering both international and even local NHL, MLB, and NBA team games. NBC Sports' regional network is much better than any of its competitors because you get to catch up with all the local teams and stay up-to-date with what's happening. It's no surprise that two-thirds of RSNs are run by NBC or Fox. The rest one third is run by local teams.
NBC Sports Gold
NBC Sports Gold is a premium service that provides live and on-demand coverage of major sports events. Additionally, NBC Sports Gold offers support for multiple devices, making it a great option for avid sports fans.
I really like the fact that the Sports Gold package covers events that are not typically covered by other networks, like figure skating. This way, if you want to watch local events and not so mainstream sports events, NBC Sports Gold has you covered.
Although these sports packages are marketed as being cost-effective, they aren't actually affordable. This is because either you buy the entire sports package for $115 or you pay for individual sports where a single sport such as rugby costs $69.99.
Thus, NBC Sports seems affordable only when it comes as part of a major streaming bundle such as Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo TV, or AT&T NOW. If you go to buy it individually, it will turn out to be an expensive affair.
Desktop/Mobile experience
I cut the cord nearly two years ago. I had a decent viewing experience with cable TV, but my streaming standards have grown so much since then. It's funny how I didn't have high expectations from cable networks and now I get frustrated when I don't get quality coverage in high resolution.
Nonetheless, I stream NBC Sports via FuboTV. I've tried streaming it from Hulu + Live TV service and from the website on my iPhone X. With each of these services, the streaming quality was satisfactory and I have nothing much to complain.
NBC Live without cables
There's a good chance that you're reading this review just for this particular section. Most people who aren't well-versed in IPTV or are purely reliant on streaming services don't know how they can stream NBC Live without cables. If you have the same question, don't worry because we have multiple solutions.
If you have one of the following services, you'll probably have NBC Sports on it. If you're looking to cut the cord and want to watch NBC Sports, make sure you only switch to the networks below:
To get NBC Sports, make sure you only switch to the networks below:
Compatibility
There are many ways you can use the channel's content, whether you're using a Mac or PC, Roku device, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android and iOS devices, or gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4.
Plans & Pricing
You can choose to pay $75 for NBC Gold or watch other networks that stream NBC Sports. That's completely up to you. Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV Fubo TV, AT&T Now, and YouTube TV all offer NBC Sports.
Suggestions I have for NBC
Instead of pricing the service high and turning users away, why not start your own platform with inexpensive packages where users can choose the desired package?
Conclusion
NBC Sports is a great service for any sports fan in the US. They have great coverage of the best sports content in the country, and I only wish they could improve their customer service and services offerings.
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