NBC doesn’t have a single universal channel number; it changes depending on your TV provider and your city.

Here’s the quick scoop, in the style you asked for.

NBC Is What Channel?

NBC is a broadcast network, so its channel number is set locally (by city) and also varies by provider (cable, satellite, fiber, or antenna). That’s why someone in New York might say “NBC is channel 4,” while a friend in Houston sees it on channel 2.

Typical NBC Channel Numbers (Examples)

These are common NBC channel numbers on many lineups (especially for DIRECTV and a lot of cable systems), but your own may differ slightly:

  • New York, NY – channel 4 (WNBC)
  • Los Angeles, CA – channel 4 (KNBC)
  • Chicago, IL – channel 5 (WMAQ)
  • Houston, TX – channel 2 (KPRC)
  • Phoenix, AZ – channel 12 (KPNX)
  • Philadelphia, PA – channel 10 (WCAU)
  • Dallas, TX – channel 5 (KXAS)
  • Miami, FL – channel 6 (WTVJ)

On many systems, NBC lands somewhere between channels 2 and 13 for the main local station.

How to Find NBC on Your TV Fast

Since the question “NBC is what channel?” usually pops up right before a game or a show starts, here’s the quickest way to nail it down:

  1. Use the on‑screen guide
    • Press “Guide” on your remote.
    • Type “NBC” or the call letters (like WNBC, KNBC, etc.) if your guide allows searching.
  1. Check your provider’s channel lookup page
    • Most major providers (Xfinity, Spectrum, DIRECTV, DISH, Fios, etc.) have a “channel lineup” or “channel finder” where you enter your ZIP code to see your local NBC number.
  1. Over‑the‑air (antenna) viewers
    • NBC is one of the “big four” broadcast networks, so with an antenna it will usually be on a low “virtual” channel like 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, etc., though subchannels may show as something like 4.1 or 5.1.
  1. Streaming live TV
    • On services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, etc., NBC is listed under “NBC” by name; there’s no fixed channel number, but you can usually pin it to your favorites.

Why It’s So Confusing

Forum threads and Q&A posts about “what channel is NBC?” are common because:

  • Channel numbers shift when providers reshuffle lineups.
  • Local affiliates (WNBC, KPRC, etc.) have their own historic channel numbers.
  • Different platforms (cable vs. satellite vs. streaming) don’t share a universal mapping.

A typical answer people give in forums is basically:

“Check your guide or your provider’s channel lineup page — it’s different for everyone.”

TL;DR

  • There is no single universal channel number for NBC.
  • In many big cities it’s a low number like 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, or 11.
  • To be 100% sure where you live, open your on‑screen guide or use your TV provider’s online channel lookup with your ZIP code.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.