NBC Sports no longer has its own dedicated cable channel.
NBCSN, the network many people still search for, shut down on December 31, 2021, and its programming moved to USA Network on cable and Peacock for streaming, while marquee events stay on the main NBC broadcast network. So if you are hunting for “NBCS” in your channel guide, the short answer is USA Network and Peacock.
This trips up a lot of viewers, because the old NBC Sports Network is gone but NBC Sports the brand is very much alive. Here is where everything went and how to watch it now.
What Channel Is NBC Sports On?
There is no single NBC Sports channel anymore. NBC Sports is now a brand spread across three places: the NBC broadcast network for the biggest events, USA Network for cable sports programming, and Peacock for streaming. When NBCUniversal closed NBCSN at the end of 2021, it folded that channel’s content into USA Network rather than maintaining a standalone sports cable network.
That means the answer to “what channel is NBC Sports on” depends on what you are trying to watch. A primetime event is likely on NBC, a cable sports broadcast is likely on USA Network, and the full slate, including streaming-only coverage, lives on Peacock.
| What you’re looking for | Where it is now |
|---|---|
| NBCSN (the old cable network) | Shut down December 31, 2021 |
| NBC Sports cable programming | USA Network |
| NBC Sports streaming | Peacock |
| Marquee events (Sunday Night Football, Olympics, Premier League, NASCAR, Kentucky Derby) | NBC broadcast plus Peacock |
| Regional networks (NBC Sports Bay Area, Boston, etc.) | Still operating, separate from NBCSN |
What Happened to NBCSN?
NBCSN, originally launched as the Outdoor Life Network and later Versus before becoming NBC Sports Network, was shut down by NBCUniversal on December 31, 2021. The company decided that running a separate sports cable channel no longer made sense when it already owned USA Network, a widely distributed entertainment channel, and was investing heavily in Peacock.
So the programming migrated. Premier League soccer, NASCAR coverage, cycling, and other NBCSN staples moved to USA Network and Peacock, and the biggest properties stayed on the NBC broadcast network. The NBCSN channel slot itself went dark, which is why it may still appear as a dead or repurposed channel in some older guides.
How to Watch NBC Sports Without Cable
Peacock is the home base. NBC’s streaming service carries NBC Sports programming, including streaming-only events, live simulcasts of NBC and USA Network sports, and on-demand replays, so a Peacock subscription replaces most of what NBCSN used to provide. For the USA Network portion, a live-TV service that carries USA, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or Sling Blue, gives you the cable sports coverage.
The marquee NBC broadcast events are also free over the air with an antenna. If you are replacing cable entirely, our guide to watching live TV online lays out which services carry NBC and USA Network together.
Is NBC Sports Free to Watch?
Partly. The events on the NBC broadcast network, including Sunday Night Football and Olympics coverage, are free over the air with an antenna through your local NBC affiliate. That covers the biggest NBC Sports properties at no cost.
The USA Network and Peacock portions require a subscription. USA is a cable channel, so you need a cable or live-TV plan that includes it, and Peacock is a paid streaming service. There is no free standalone NBC Sports channel to tune to anymore, because the dedicated network no longer exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What channel is NBC Sports on?
NBC Sports does not have a single dedicated channel. Its programming is split across the NBC broadcast network for major events, USA Network for cable sports, and Peacock for streaming. The old NBCSN channel shut down at the end of 2021.
What happened to NBCSN?
NBCSN, the NBC Sports Network, shut down on December 31, 2021. NBCUniversal moved its programming to USA Network and Peacock rather than keep a separate sports cable channel, with the biggest events remaining on the NBC broadcast network.
Is NBCSN still around?
No. NBCSN went off the air at the end of 2021 and no longer exists as a channel. If it still shows in your channel guide, the slot has been removed or repurposed. The content moved to USA Network and Peacock.
Where did NBC Sports programming go?
It moved to USA Network on cable and Peacock for streaming, with marquee events such as Sunday Night Football, the Olympics, Premier League, NASCAR, and the Kentucky Derby staying on the NBC broadcast network. Regional NBC Sports networks continue to operate separately.
How do I watch NBC Sports without cable?
Subscribe to Peacock, which carries NBC Sports streaming coverage and simulcasts, and use a live-TV service such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or Sling Blue for the USA Network portion. An antenna pulls in the NBC broadcast events free.
Is NBC Sports on USA Network?
Yes. After NBCSN shut down, much of its cable sports programming moved to USA Network, which now carries Premier League soccer, NASCAR, and other NBC Sports coverage alongside its entertainment lineup. You need a plan that includes USA to watch it.
What channel is USA Network on DirecTV and Dish?
USA Network is on channel 242 on DirecTV and channel 105 on Dish, though numbers can vary by package and region. Since NBC Sports cable programming now lives on USA, that is where to look for events that once aired on NBCSN.
Last updated: May 2026. We refresh this guide as NBC Sports distribution changes.