The torch has made its way around the world, and after a pandemic-induced delay, the 2020 Olympic Games are finally upon us from Tokyo (albeit a year later in 2021).
If you're ready to cheer on Team USA, there are a number of ways you can do so. NBC has exclusive rights to the Games, so as long as you have access to NBC—whether it's on cable TV, via a streaming app, or online—you'll be able to watch all of the high-flying, fast-sprinting champions bring home the gold.
Option 1: Watch Live on NBC
NBC has been the exclusive home of the Summer Olympic Games since 1988, airing all of the events on its wide breadth of network-owned channels. Whether you have a traditional cable TV account or you've cut the cord in favor of a live TV streaming service, you'll find coverage across the full suite of NBC channels you have access to.
Your local NBC station will air recaps of the most popular events as part of its nightly primetime coverage, as well as both the opening and closing ceremonies. Additional live coverage—which, owing to the time difference between the U.S. and Japan, will be in the wee hours of the morning for most viewers—will be offered via NBC's other properties, including:
- NBC Sports Network
- NBC Olympic Channel
- CNBC
- Golf Channel
- USA
- Telemundo
Option 2: Stream on Peacock or NBC Sports App
If you have neither cable nor a live TV streaming service, worry not—you can still access Olympics coverage via NBC's two streaming apps, Peacock and NBC Sports.
Peacock vs. NBC Sports App
| Price | Availability | Extras | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peacock | Peacock: Free Peacock Premium: $4.99/mo Peacock Premium Plus: $9.99/mo |
Apple devices Amazon Fire TV Android TV Roku Chromecast Xbox devices Playstation devices Various Smart TVs Comcast Xfinity Cox Contour |
Original programming Daily live shows and recaps Ad-free streaming (Premium Plus only) |
| NBC Sports App | Free |
Apple devices Amazon Fire TV Android TV Roku Chromecast Xbox devices Playstation 4 Various Smart TVs |
N/A |
NBC introduced its Peacock app in July of 2020, and the network has increasingly added exclusive content and sports coverage to its lineup (the first few rounds of the tennis French Open, for example, was only available on Peacock before switching to live coverage on NBC). The app now features a dedicated Toyko Olympics destination where, in addition to the Games themselves, you can also access daily live shows and recaps, original features, and even highlights of the Games' best moments.
Peacock comes in three subscription tiers, and luckily for sports fans, the free version will show 99% of Olympics coverage. If you're a basketball nut, though, you'll have to upgrade to the mid-tier plan, Peacock Premium, at $4.99/month to watch live games for the USA men's basketball team. The third tier, Peacock Premium Plus, doesn't give you any extra Games coverage, but does offer a completely ad-free experience.
Alternatively, you could download the NBC Sports streaming app for free to get your Olympics fix. The app shows live sports airing across NBC's various sports-dedicated channels, and you can view all of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics coverage available across the NBC suite. The experience is relatively bare-bones—no special coverage or original programming here—but if all you're after is live Games coverage, you're good to go.
Option 3: Watch Online
If you're tied to your laptop more often than not, NBC makes it easy to watch live and replay coverage of the Olympic Games. Head over to NBCOlympics.com where you can see live and upcoming events, filter by your favorite sport, and read both breaking news stories and feature stories about the inspiring athletes at the Games.
Option 4: Use a Live TV Streaming Service
Not sure which streaming service to use? We checked 'em all out for you to make it easy! Check out our picks for the best TV streaming services for cord-cutters... like you!
Cord cutters, rejoice: as long as your live TV streaming service provides access to local and national NBC channels, you should be able to stream the games to your heart's content. These services include:
- YouTube TV
- Hulu + Live TV
- Sling TV
- Fubo TV
- AT&T TV
Just make sure you have an internet plan that supports all of that streaming (and screaming) you're going to be doing!
Tokyo Olympics Streaming Schedule
As mentioned above, if you watch to catch your favorite Olympic sports live, you're going to need to be an early bird (and make yourself a big cup of Joe). Japan's time zone is between 13-16 hours ahead of the U.S., depending on where in the country you'll be watching. Most sports will be quite early in the morning, with a select few airing live in primetime and many others airing as replays later in the day.
While the opening ceremony is on July 23rd, a few sports will begin during the week prior. You can find the broadcast schedule as published by NBC, listing each sport and the channel it's airing on.
Best Internet Plans for Streaming
If you opt to stream the Olympics live on TV, there are two main factors to consider: data and speed. Consider how much TV you already watch via your internet connection, as well as which other devices are connected to your network simultaneously. You don't want to deal with data overage charges because of your love of the game. Your speeds matter hugely, as well—too slow, and your connection will buffer. Not only is that just an annoying experience, but it might ruin that photo finish at the end of the race!
While you can probably get by on speeds of 25Mbps, we recommend an internet plan with at least 50Mbps to ensure the best streaming experience. (Check out our picks for which internet provider has the fastest speeds!) Likewise, you'll want to consider a plan that allows for plenty of monthly data usage. Unlimited data plans are increasingly becoming the norm, but they're also pricier than their data-limited counterparts. If you don't want to spring for an unlimited internet plan, we recommend one that guarantees at least 200GB per month (more if you live with other family members or roommates).
Here are some options that might fit the bill quite nicely:
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#1
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AT&T
Internet 300 (Fiber 300Mbps)
$35/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
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#2
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Xfinity
300 Mbps
$40/mo
5 year price guarantee
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#3
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Frontier
Fiber 500 Internet
$29.99/mo
with AutoPay
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#4
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Spectrum
Internet Gig
$70/mo
($60 plan + $10 modem)
for 1 year
+ $20 Upfront
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#5
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Kinetic
100 Mbps
$24.99/mo
for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment.
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#6
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WOW!
Internet 300
$20/mo
with AutoPay
+ $10 Upfront
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#7
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Starlink
Residential 100 Mbps
$55/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
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#8
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Quantum Fiber
Internet 8 Gpbs
$165/mo
price and speed may vary by location
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#9
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Ziply
Fiber 100/100
$35/mo
with AutoPay & paperless billing.
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#10
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Verizon Fios
myPlan + 2 Gig
$94.99/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
+ $99 Upfront
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Lauren Hannula
Managing Editor
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