You can watch the Olympics on traditional TV channels, major streaming apps, or through official Olympic partners, depending on your country.

Main ways to watch (especially in the US)

  • NBC broadcast TV : In the United States, NBC is the primary TV broadcaster for the Olympics, showing live events, primetime coverage, and highlight shows over the air and via cable/satellite.
  • Peacock streaming app : Peacock carries live streams of essentially all events, plus replays and studio shows; you can watch on smart TVs, streaming sticks, phones, tablets, or browsers at PeacockTV.com.
  • NBC Sports / NBC apps & sites: You can also stream via NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC Sports app, or the NBC app, typically by logging in with a cable/TV provider if you have one.
  • Cable channels (USA Network, CNBC) : Many events and overflow coverage air on USA Network and CNBC if you have cable or a liveā€‘TV streaming service that includes those channels.

If youā€™re outside the US

Official broadcasters vary by country, but some common examples are:

  • United Kingdom: BBC and BBC iPlayer (free streaming with a UK TV licence).
  • Canada: CBC and CBC Gem streaming.
  • Australia: Nine network and 9Now streaming.
  • Other countries: The Olympics site lists local ā€œmedia rights holdersā€ and where to watch live in each region.

Watching without cable

Many people watch the Olympics using internet TV instead of cable.

  • Peacock alone (US): Lets you stream huge amounts of coverage directly, including ceremonies and many live events, for a relatively low monthly price.
  • Live TV streaming services : Platforms like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or similar services in your country carry NBC and the key Olympic channels so you can watch live just like cable, but over the internet.
  • Free-to-air + apps : In some countries, national broadcasters show events free over antenna and also offer free streaming apps (like BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem, or 9Now).

In forum-style discussions, people often say the ā€œbestā€ way is a mix: use a cheap liveā€‘TV streaming plan or antenna for the main channel, then a dedicated app like Peacock or your national broadcasterā€™s app to catch specific events and replays.

Quick checklist (pick what fits you)

  1. In the US and want it simple: get Peacock, and if you need full channel coverage, add a liveā€‘TV streaming service that includes NBC, USA, and CNBC.
  1. In another country: check your local Olympic broadcaster (BBC, CBC, Nine, etc.) and their streaming app; most offer comprehensive or free coverage.
  1. Want schedules: use the official Olympics or NBC Olympics schedule page to see whatā€™s on and where to watch each event.

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