Table Of Content
nbcsports.com
NBC is one of the most comprehensive networks when it comes to sports action. NBC alongside ABC, Fox, and CBS is one of the four major networks in the country. While all the other three networks have their independent streaming service allowing them to navigate in the streaming market, NBC seems to be holding its own. Though it has an app, it doesn't have a dedicated streaming platform such as CBS's All Access.
Multiple ways to stream the channel
What is amazing about NBC Sports is that you can consume its content through various devices, via different service packs, without the need for traditional equipment or bulky wiring. You only need 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 a tough decision as 90% of the US population still relies on cable and satellite TV connections. However, if sports content is the main content bucket, there are plenty of alternative options available without spending hefty $80-150 monthly. You don't need to pay for expensive channels like NBC Sports and other networks if you use alternatives like Hulu or Netflix.
Skinny Bundles - Most lucrative option
Skinny bundles are a great way to access NBC Sports. If you're not familiar with them, let me shed some light. They have packages that have slimmed down content featuring 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 operated by NBC Sports Group, part of NBC Universal. It broadcasts sports events on its network and is one of the leading national sports cable channels. NBC Sports was part of the NBC news division and aired a diverse range of sports such as NASCAR, the NFL, the NHL, the French Open, Olympic Games, English Premier League and Tour De France.
When Comcast acquired NBC Sports in 2011, their own cable sports networks were aligned to NBC Sports and as a result of this new network forming, it was given the name - NBC Sports Group.
Design
I found the simplicity of the search result to be the first thing that caught my eye. I saw the snippet with sports categories listed in the search engine, and this provided me a fair idea about what I should expect on the website. However, once I landed on the website, it took me some time to get used to the interface.
Located at the top of the page is the main menu with sections like 'Featured', 'NBC Sports Live', and 'Red Button'. The Featured section has a variety of live events that are currently airing such as the Men's World Cup, NHL Playoffs, and various NASCAR races. NBC Sports Live has all of the live sporting events that are being aired on NBC. The Red Button lets you watch any event that is currently being broadcast. Alongside these menus is a search bar which lets you quickly find what you are looking for.
Since NBC Sports in itself is a massive network, there was too much going on the website. So, we dissected each of the sections and simplified the overall layout of website. So, upon initial visit, the first thing that catches your eye is black and grey menus located at top of page. Located at top of menus are main menu with sections like 'Featured', 'NBC Sports Live', and 'Red Button'. The Featured section has a variety of live events that are currently airing such as Men's World Cup, NHL Playoffs, and various NASCAR races. NBC Sports Live has all live sporting events that are being aired on NBC . The Red Button lets you watch any event that is currently being broadcast . Alongside these menus is search bar which let you quickly find what you are looking for .
The black menu on the computer has 12 categories including Watch, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, Soccer, NCAA FB, Nascar, Motors, Golf, and Olympics. There is also a gray menu that has specific options such as Bet, Gold, Odds, Olympic Channel, USA, Rotor World and Tickets. The search bar is located at the top of the gray menu.
The visually appealing menus look decent, but they may not be comfortable for users. As you scroll down, the menu has a very haphazard 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 is the main content section which is divided into four segments.
On the left side of the page, you have a Live section with options to watch events currently happening or upcoming events. In the second section, you'll find a video highlights of recent sports action. Besides that, you'll find a highlights section that has both video and text content providing reports on upcoming games and also the ones that have been concluded. Finally, on the right side of the page is a pure News section with top headlines followed by numerous titles which 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, then there's a good chance that you're already watching most of NBC Sports' content. It has a lot of content, covering both international and local NHL, MLB, and NBA team?s 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 operated 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, as well as support for multiple devices.
The aspect I love most about the Sports Gold package from NBC is that it covers niche events such as figure skating which generally does not have extensive coverage. This means that, if you want to watch local events and not so mainstream sports events, NBC Sports Gold will have you covered.
With that being said, there is a catch. These packages, though marketed as affordable, aren't actually affordable. Why? Because either you buy the entire sports package for a total of $115 or you pay for individual sports where a single sport such as rugby costs $69.99. (That's too much, isn't it?).
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 my cable nearly two years ago. Despite having a decent viewing experience with cable TV, 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 infuriated when I don't get quality coverage in high resolution.
Despite the fact that I stream NBC Sports via FuboTV, I've had satisfactory streaming experiences with both Hulu + Live TV service and the website on my iPhone X.
NBC Live without cables
There is a good chance that you are reading this review for this particular section. Most of us who are not well-versed with IPTV or are purely reliant on streaming service have no clue as to how we can stream NBC Live without cables. If you have the same question then fear not 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:
If you only have a cable TV subscription, then you won't be able to watch NBC Sports without a cable box. However, if you have an over-the-air antenna or a streaming service like Hulu or Netflix, then you can watch NBC Sports without any additional fees.
Compatibility
The compatibility with devices is as follows: you can stream the channel on your Mac or PC, Roku device, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android and iOS devices, gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4.
Plans & Pricing
You can either pay $75 for NBC Gold or you can choose to subscribe to other streaming services that carry 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
Starting your own platform with inexpensive packages would be a better idea than overpricing the service and turning the users away. This would allow users to pick the desired package, which would make it more affordable for them.
Conclusion
NBC Sports is an essential service for sports lovers in the United States. The quality of their coverage is unmatched, and I think they could improve their customer service a bit.
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