How To Watch the Winter Olympics 2022
We compared the top TV services to determine the best ways to watch NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
The 2022 Winter Olympics are finally here, and NBCUniversal’s platforms have got you covered. Their streaming service Peacock offers the best overall plan for watching the Olympic Games because it has live and on-demand coverage of every Olympic event.
If you’re in the market for a more comprehensive TV plan, cable provider Spectrum offers contract-free plans that include every NBC network required for watching the Olympics. Plus, for a limited time, Spectrum TV customers will also receive 12 months of Peacock Premium for free.
Before you hit the slopes, keep scrolling to see which channels you’ll need and learn more about our TV provider recommendations.
The channels you’ll need to watch the Winter Olympics
The 2022 Winter Olympics can be found on the networks of NBCUniversal. Because Beijing is 13 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone, many marquee Olympic events will air on delay in primetime or live during late-night or early-morning hours.
You’ll need the following channels to watch the Winter Games:
- NBC
- USA Network
- CNBC
- Olympic Channel
- Telemundo, Universo (Spanish-language coverage)
Peacock is also an essential part of viewing the Olympics because it will air every event live with full-event replays available immediately after. The streaming service will host other live and on-demand content each week—including daily studio shows, event highlights, and docuseries. Every Peacock plan guarantees Olympics coverage, but its paid tiers—Peacock Premium Monthly ($5.99 a month) and Peacock Premium Plus ($11.99 a month)—offer all Olympic programming without limitations.
Pro tip: The 24th edition of the Winter Olympics from Beijing, China will feature 109 medal events across seven winter sports. Bookmark the Winter Games’ full event schedule to stay up-to-date with every sport.
Because of the time difference, you may also want to utilize NBC Olympics’ two digital platforms: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Using your TV provider’s login, you’ll be able to watch live events no matter what time it is here in the states. If you don’t have Peacock, these platforms are crucial for watching certain events that might not receive full coverage on the standard channels.
Best ways to watch the Winter Olympics
- Editor’s choice: Peacock ($5.99–$11.99/mo. or $59.99–$119.99/yr.)
- Most Olympics coverage: Spectrum ($69.99–$74.99/mo.)
- Best DVR: YouTube TV ($72.99/mo.)
- Cheapest: OTA antenna ($20.00–$60.00, one-time purchase)
Editor’s choice: Peacock
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pros
- Every Olympic event live and on demand
- Cheap plans
- Exclusive shows and documentaries
Cons
- Limited original content
- Confusing interface
Peacock is the best overall option for watching the Winter Games because it’s home to every Olympic event, with both live and on-demand access. It’s a great companion service for those who already have access to a traditional TV plan. Though, its complete coverage of the Games also allows the app to work just fine as a standalone service—especially if you’re looking to save money.
With Peacock, you’ll get every minute of every event of the 2022 Winter Olympics. You’ll also be able to watch Olympic-themed documentaries, studio shows, and other original programming. This year, Peacock will debut four exclusive daily shows dedicated to Olympics coverage: The Olympic Show, Olympic Ice, Winter Gold, and Top Highlights.
Peacock has three plans: a basic, free plan and two paid plans. You’ll get a solid amount of Olympic content with its free, ad-based plan. However, you’ll wanna upgrade to Peacock Premium for access to all live events.
Peacock Premium is broken up into two plans: an ad-based plan for $4.99 a month and an ad-free plan for $9.99 a month. Both plans have the same content, so the $4.99 a month plan isn’t a bad option—especially because some live content will have ads no matter which plan you choose.
Most Olympics coverage: Spectrum
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pros
- Every Olympic channel
- 12 mos. of Peacock Premium included
- Many channel add-on options
Cons
- Smaller channel counts compared to other cable or satellite providers
- Confusing DVR packages
With Spectrum, you’ll get every channel needed to watch NBC’s coverage of the Olympics. You’re also eligible to receive 12 free months of Peacock Premium, alongside extras like premium channels and thousands of on-demand movies and shows. That’s a lot of extra content at your fingertips, should your attention drift away from the Olympic Games.
Of Spectrum’s plans, we recommend their TV Select plan ($59.99 a month) and the Sports View add-on ($6.00 a month) because it gives you every Olympic channel without a hefty monthly cost. Across the board, you’ll receive over 125 channels—meaning you’ll pay about $0.53 per channel while getting the best of sports and entertainment.
You also won’t have to contend with the restraints of a contract typically found in cable and satellite plans, which is why it’s our top option for the most Olympics coverage.
Pro tip: We also recommend this plan for college basketball fans, an added bonus for those anticipating March Madness once the Winter Olympics are complete.
Best DVR: YouTube TV
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pros
- Every Olympic channel
- Unlimited cloud DVR
- Recognizable interface
Cons
- Limited regional sports networks
- No customizable plans
YouTube TV is the best live TV streaming service for watching the Winter Olympics because it has unlimited DVR storage and every Olympic channel. For $64.99 a month, you’ll get 100+ channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time.
The Olympic channels themselves are pretty common across all TV providers, but what makes YouTube stand out the most is its DVR. Because you can save an unlimited amount of content in your DVR library, it’s almost as if YouTube TV was purposely built for watching a three-week multi-sporting event that takes place on the other side of the planet.
Comparable streaming services don’t match up to YouTube TV’s DVR capabilities. fuboTV offers 1,000 hours of cloud DVR space, whereas Hulu + Live TV only starts you at 50 hours. With well over 800 hours of Winter Olympics coverage airing on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC alone, it’ll be easy to miss a lot of events without the help of an unlimited DVR.
It’s no wonder YouTube TV is our top-ranked live TV streaming service.
Cheapest: Over-the-air (OTA) HD TV antenna
CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $59.99 (as of 02/24/22 9:00 a.m. MST). Read full disclaimer.
Pros
- Low, one-time price
- Local coverage
Cons
- No out-of-market coverage
- No DVR
Any TV fanatic should own an over-the-air (OTA) digital antenna. It costs between only $20 and $60, and, fortunately, it will allow you to watch all the Olympic action that plays on your local NBC station.
During the 2022 Winter Olympics, NBC will air around 200 hours of coverage. While you’ll still miss out on a lot of live events, NBC will air 18 nightly recap shows in primetime so you won’t lose track of any major storylines. It’s the perfect way to stay caught up with the Games, especially if you’re at work or in school during most of the day.
We recommend the Mohu Leaf Plus ($59.99 on Amazon*) specifically as our go-to antenna because its durability and range will work for most people, even those outside of major cities.
How to watch the Winter Olympics for free
With a one-time purchase of an OTA antenna, you can watch NBC’s coverage of the Olympics for free thereafter. You won’t get to see every event, and most events won’t be live, but you’ll get primetime and daytime coverage through your local NBC affiliate without the Olympic torch burning a hole in your wallet.
Peacock’s free, ad-supported plan also offers Olympic coverage, such as live events, studio shows, and documentaries. You won’t get Peacock’s full library of Olympic content without upgrading to its premium tier, but the app is still worth having in your viewing lineup.
Final take
To get complete access to every Winter Olympics event, you’ll want Peacock Premium Monthly (starting at $5.99 a month). The streaming service is home to over 2,800 hours of Olympics coverage—including studio shows and documentaries—so you’ll always have something to watch even when live events aren’t happening.
Spectrum’s TV Select plan ($59.99 a month) with the Sports View add-on ($6.00 a month) is the gold medal winner for cable subscribers. It has all of NBCUniversal’s Olympic channels, many other sports networks, and several premium offerings. Spectrum will also give you a free 12-month subscription to Peacock Premium to ensure you don’t miss a single moment of this year’s Olympics.
YouTube TV is a cheaper alternative with unlimited DVR space. Its only plan costs $64.99 a month and includes all channels needed to watch NBCUniversal’s televised Winter Olympics coverage.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics FAQ
Can you watch the Olympics on YouTube TV?
YouTube TV offers every channel needed to watch the 2022 Winter Olympics and includes unlimited cloud DVR storage.
Will the Winter Olympics be televised?
The Winter Olympics will air on NBCUniversal’s networks. Events begin on February 2, 2022, two days prior to the Games’ opening ceremony at Beijing National Stadium. The closing ceremony will take place at the same venue on February 20, 2022.
Where can I stream the Winter Olympics?
You can stream every event of the Winter Olympics on Peacock. The streaming service is available on several supported devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.
You can also stream the Olympics on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app by logging in with your TV provider’s credentials. Your TV plan must also include the necessary NBC channels for you to access all Olympic content.
Can you get the Olympics on Amazon Prime?
You won’t be able to view live or on-demand coverage of the 2022 Winter Olympics through your Amazon Prime Video account.
How can I watch the Winter Paralympics?
You can stream all coverage of the Winter Paralympic Games on Peacock. NBC, USA Network, and Olympic Channel will televise a combined total of 120 hours of Paralympic coverage. NBCUniversal’s digital platforms—NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app— will also provide streaming coverage with a valid TV provider login.
Methodology
Our sports-minded experts spent over a dozen hours comparing TV providers and their plans to determine which provided the most coverage, by hour, of the 2022 Winter Olympics. We pitted each viewing option head-to-head by comparing their prices, Olympic coverage scope, and DVR/on-demand capabilities.
To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 02/24/22 9:00 a.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
