How to Watch Local News on Peacock: Your Complete Guide

Understanding Local News Streaming on Peacock

With the rise of streaming services, viewers increasingly want access to local news without a traditional cable subscription. Peacock, a popular streaming platform from NBCUniversal, offers several live news options – but there are important limitations and requirements to understand before you sign up. This guide explains how you can watch local news on Peacock, what you’ll need, and explores alternatives if your local station isn’t covered.

Which Local News Channels Are Available on Peacock?

Peacock provides live access to local NBC affiliate stations in supported regions, but not to affiliates from other major networks such as ABC, CBS, or FOX. This means you can watch your local NBC news, weather, and NBC programming live through Peacock’s Premium Plus subscription tier [1] . The service does not offer live streams from non-NBC stations, so coverage is limited to NBC content.

Available cities for full local NBC live streams include major markets such as Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, South Florida, Boston, and Los Angeles, among others. Supported regions may expand or change, so it is important to check availability for your specific location on the official Peacock platform [2] .

What Plans Unlock Local News on Peacock?

The Peacock Premium Plus plan is currently the only subscription tier that includes live local NBC station streaming. This plan typically costs $11.99 per month as of mid-2025, but pricing may vary and is subject to change. The standard Peacock Premium plan, which is less expensive, does
not
include live access to local NBC channels, though it does provide a wide array of on-demand shows, movies, and 50+ streaming channels, including national news options like NBC News Now and Sky News [1] [2] .

Step-by-Step: How to Watch Local News on Peacock

If you want to stream your NBC local news via Peacock, follow these steps:

Check Your Location : Visit the official Peacock website and use their channel lookup tool or sign in to your account to determine whether your local NBC affiliate is available in your area. Not all regions are eligible for live local NBC streaming [2] .
Sign Up for Peacock Premium Plus : If available, choose the Premium Plus plan during registration. You can do this directly through the Peacock website or via supported devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or mobile apps.
Log In and Navigate : After subscribing, log into your account, and navigate to the “Channels” section. Look for your NBC local channel (e.g., NBC Chicago News, NBC New York News).
Start Watching Live : Click on your local NBC station to begin streaming local news, weather, and NBC programming live.

Peacock streams are available 24/7 for supported markets, providing a digital alternative to traditional over-the-air or cable viewing [2] [5] .

What Other News Content Is Offered?

For those who do not have local NBC access through Peacock, or who want national and international coverage, Peacock includes:

NBC News Now : A 24/7 streaming channel providing national headlines, breaking news, and in-depth reporting [3] .
Sky News : Round-the-clock international news from the UK and around the world [3] .
TODAY All Day : Lifestyle, feature stories, and news segments from NBC’s TODAY show [5] .

These channels are available to all Peacock users, including those on the free tier, although local NBC news is reserved for Premium Plus subscribers.

Real-World Example: A Viewer in Chicago

Suppose you live in Chicago and want to watch NBC 5 Chicago’s local newscasts. By subscribing to Peacock Premium Plus and logging in from within the Chicago area, you can stream NBC Chicago News live, including all regularly scheduled morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts, plus local weather and breaking news [3] . If you live outside a supported region, you may only have access to national NBC news content.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

There are some limitations to consider:

Not All Cities Supported : Some regions do not have a local NBC live stream available on Peacock. In this case, you can use an over-the-air antenna or check with other streaming platforms that may offer local channels in your market.
Only NBC Affiliates : Peacock does not provide live ABC, CBS, FOX, or independent station local news. To access these, consider other services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or a digital antenna.
Internet Connection Required : Streaming requires a stable internet connection; local over-the-air channels may be more reliable during outages.

If you do not see your local NBC affiliate listed during signup, you may want to search for your city’s NBC station’s own live stream or news app, as some local stations offer free news streaming on their official websites or apps.

Alternative Approaches to Watching Local News

For viewers whose local NBC station is not available on Peacock, or who need access to other networks’ local news, consider these options:

Digital Antenna : Receive all major network affiliates (including local NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS) for free with a digital antenna. This is often the most reliable way to access local news.
Network Streaming Apps : Many local stations offer their own free live streams via their websites or dedicated apps. Search for your city’s NBC, ABC, CBS, or FOX affiliate and look for a “Watch Live” or “Live Newscast” feature.
Other Streaming Services : Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DIRECTV Stream frequently include live local news channels in their lineups. Check each service’s website for a channel lookup tool to verify availability before subscribing.
National and International News on Peacock : Even without local NBC access, Peacock users can watch national coverage from NBC News Now and international headlines from Sky News without any additional cost [3] .

Key Takeaways and Guidance

Peacock provides a convenient way for many viewers to watch their local NBC news live alongside a large library of on-demand content. However, this feature is limited to subscribers of the Premium Plus plan and only in supported markets. Before subscribing, check that your city or region is covered by using the official Peacock website. If your local NBC station is not available, you can access news from other sources such as network websites, apps, or alternative streaming platforms. For comprehensive local news coverage from all major networks, combining a digital antenna with streaming services is often the most effective strategy.