What are the best ways to dodge looming channel blackouts?
What are the best ways to dodge looming channel blackouts?
NBCUniversal channels and Monumental Sports Network face blackouts on major live TV streamers this week. What are the best ways to get around those outages?
This could be a big week for sports fans across the United States, especially those in and around the nation’s capital. There are a couple of major channel blackouts looming on major live TV streaming services; first, YouTube TV appears poised to lose access to NBCUniversal-owned channels, including the NBC broadcast network and a host of popular cable channels.
As if that wasn’t stressful enough, both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV stand to lose Monumental Sports Network, the regional sports network that carries Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards games in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. NBC channels could be blacked out as soon as Tuesday, and the Monumental outage won’t be far behind if it comes to pass.
With that in mind, The Streamable wanted to put together a list of alternatives for customers to watch these channels on if they are blacked out. Keep reading to see where you can find content from NBC channels on YouTube TV if they are blacked out there, as well as where you can watch Monumental Sports Network if it’s not available on Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV when the 2025-26 NBA and NHL season starts.
What are your alternatives for watching channels that may be blacked out starting this week?
Where to watch NBC channels if they’re blacked out on YouTube TV
Which channels owned by NBCU could leave YouTube TV?
NBCU doesn’t just own the NBC broadcast channel, though that’s undoubtedly an important part of its overall media empire. The company also owns Bravo, CNBC, E!, Golf Channel, MS NOW, Oxygen, SYFY, and USA Network.
These channels are widely available elsewhere, and we’ll tell you the best ways to watch them in more detail below!
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| Bravo | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
| CNBC | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | + $6 | + $18 | |
| E! | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
| Golf Channel | + $15 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | + $11 | ✓ | |
| MS NOW | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oxygen | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | + $6 | + $18 | |
| SYFY | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
| USA Network | + $24 | - | + $61 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
Best alternative to stream NBC channels: DIRECTV
We love DIRECTV as the best way to replace YouTube TV if you want to watch NBCUniversal channels. Its ENTERTAINMENT channel plan for $85 per month includes nearly every NBCU channel, including the NBC broadcast network in most markets. It’s got 90+ channels total, and includes a five-day free trial for customers who sign up to receive DIRECTV through their own internet-connected device.
There is a wide selection of DIRECTV Signature channel plans to choose from, but if viewers want to pick and choose which NBCU channels they get, they can also check out DIRECTV Genre Packs. Starting at $20 per month, Genre Packs focus on specific programming like sports, news, entertainment, or kids content, and NBCU channels have a big presence within them.
You can choose to pay for only the channels you want with DIRECTV, or you can get a family-sized channel package with DIRECTV Signature plans. Either way, you’ll get access to great NBCU channels with DIRECTV and enjoy reliable service, which is why we recommend it most highly if you’re moving on from YouTube TV.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Next pick to stream NBCU channels: Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV also carries a great selection of NBCU channels; in fact, it’s one of the few services to carry Golf Channel in its base plan. This service will cost $90 per month for new customers starting on Oct. 21, but until then new subscribers can sign up for plans that include the Disney Bundle free for $83 per month after a three-day free trial.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $89.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN Select at no extra charge.
Watch NBCU and more sports with Fubo
Fubo has NBCU channels as well, and its Pro plan starts at $85 per month. Customers can also get a selection of NBCU channels in the Fubo Sports service, which starts at $56 per month normally and does not come with regional sports networks — which are accompanied by a mandatory fee of up to $17 per month on Pro-level plans and above. Fubo comes with a free trial between one and seven days, depending on several factors, including what time of month you sign up.
Fubo
Fubo is a live TV streaming service offering a robust lineup of approximately 150 premier channels, with plans starting at $63.99 per month. This entry-level package provides access to local broadcast affiliates 18 of the leading 35 cable channels channels, and valuable regional sports networks (RSNs).
Good way to watch NBCU channels and save: Sling TV
Sling TV carries NBC in a small number of markets in its Sling Select and Sling Blue plans. Sling Select has a slimmed-down number of channels starting $20 per month, whereas Sling Blue comes with around 40 networks for $46 per month. Check out the markets where Sling TV carries NBC in the table below:
| NBC market | Channel call sign |
|---|---|
| Boston | WBTS |
| Chicago | WMAQ |
| Dallas/Fort Worth | KXAS |
| Miami/Fort Lauderdale | WTVJ |
| Hartford/New Haven | WVIT |
| Los Angeles | KNBC |
| New York | WNBC |
| Philadelphia | WCAU |
| San Diego | KNSD |
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KNTV |
| Washington, DC | WRC |
| Philadelphia | WTXF |
| Phoenix | KSAZ |
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KTVU |
| Seattle | KCPQ |
| Tampa/St. Petersburg | WTVT |
| Washington, DC | WTTG |
In addition, Bravo, MSNBC, USA Network, and other NBCU channels are found in the Sling Blue plan — though CNBC, Golf Channel, and Oxygen can only be gotten through add-on purchases with Sling. Still, if you want to save money and watch NBCU channels, Sling is a good way to go for many customers!
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord-cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.
What about Peacock?
Peacock does not carry all content found on NBCU channels, but a huge selection of the primetime titles that air on these channels stream on Peacock the day after they air live. Peacock’s Premium plan also has a wide variety of live sports that air on NBC, including “Sunday Night Football” from the NFL, Big Ten football, and starting this fall live NBA games. Peacock Premium costs $11 per month, and while you won’t get any live streams of NBC cable channels with this streamer, it’s a good way to watch NBCU content at a lower price if you can wait until the day after it airs live.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
How to watch Monumental Sports Network if it’s blacked out from Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV
There are fewer options for watching Monumental Sports Network if that channel is blacked out from Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. Distribution of regional sports networks can be hit or miss, but there is one major live TV streamer that offers Monumental, other than Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, as well as a direct-to-consumer option.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| Monumental Sports Network | + $44 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | + $18 | |
Best live TV streamer to watch Monumental Sports Network: DIRECTV
DIRECTV’s CHOICE package carries Monumental Sports Network for customers in the DMV area. This plan costs $90 per month, though a regional sports network fee of up to $16 can apply to customers who receive such channels in their plan. DIRECTV’s CHOICE plan comes with a huge selection of well over 100 channels, including all the most popular cable news, sports, and entertainment networks.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Skip pay-TV with Monumental+
Monumental+ is a direct-to-consumer service that viewers in the TV footprint of the MSN linear channel can sign up to stream for $20 per month. All live Capitals and Wizards games that would appear on Monumental Sports Networks can be streamed on Monumental+ for as long as a prospective blackout persists.
Monumental+
Monumental Sports Network’s app includes in-market access to live games for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, among other live games and original programs. Current viewers who access the network’s channel through a Pay TV provider will continue to be able to watch Monumental Sports Network the same way as before, as well as via Monumental Sports Network’s newly launched digital platform with no additional fees.