How to Watch the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Fri, Feb 4, 2022 4:56 PM

The Winter Olympics of 2022 have arrived, and NBCUniversal's platforms have you covered. Peacock, their streaming service, includes live and on-demand coverage of every Olympic event, making it the finest overall plan for viewing the Olympics.

If you're looking for a complete TV package, Spectrum offers contract-free packages that contain all of the NBC networks you'll need to watch the Olympics. Additionally, Spectrum TV users will receive 12 months of Peacock Premium for free for a short period.

Continue scrolling to see the channels you'll need and learn more about our TV provider suggestions before hitting the slopes.

How to Watch the Winter Olympics in the Best Way

• Editor's choice: Peacock Premium ($4.99/mo.)

• Most Olympics coverage: Spectrum TV® Silver ($79.99/mo.)

• Best DVR: YouTube TV ($64.99/mo.)

• Cheapest: OTA antenna ($20.00–$60.00 one-time purchase)

NBCUniversal's networks will broadcast the 2022 Winter Olympics. Because Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time, several major Olympic events will be shown on tape delay in primetime or live late at night or early in the morning.

To watch the Winter Games, you'll need the following channels:

• NBC

• USA Network

• CNBC

• Olympic Channel

• Telemundo, Universo (Spanish-language coverage)

Peacock is also a must-see for Olympic viewers because it will broadcast every event live, with full-event replays accessible shortly afterward. The streaming service will offer additional live and on-demand programming each week, such as daily studio shows, event highlights, and docuseries. Every Peacock plan includes Olympics content, but the premium tiers—Premium ($4.99 per month) and Premium Plus ($9.99 per month)—provide unlimited access to all Olympic programs.

Due to the time difference, you may also want to use NBC Olympics' two digital platforms, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. You'll be able to view live events no matter what hour it is in the United States if you use your TV provider's login. If you don't have Peacock, these platforms are essential for observing events that the mainstream media may not fully cover.

Spectrum: Most Olympics Coverage

• Price:$49.99–$99.99/mo. for 12 mos.

• Olympic channels: NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Olympic Channel

• Features:12 mos. of Peacock Premium included no contracts and multiple DVR options

Pros:

• Every Olympic channel

• 12 mos. of Peacock Premium included

• Premium channels in Silver and Gold plans 

Cons: 

• Smaller channel counts compared to other cable or satellite providers

• Confusing DVR packages

Spectrum's TV Silver and TV Gold plans include all of the channels you'll need to view NBC's Olympic coverage. These higher-tier subscriptions also include a 12-month free trial of Peacock Premium, which includes premium channels and access to hundreds of on-demand movies and series. Should your attention wander away from the Olympic Games, you'll have a lot of supplementary stuff at your fingertips.

We prefer Spectrum's TV Silver plan ($79.99 per month) because it includes every Olympic channel without a high monthly fee. You'll get over 175 channels across the board, which means you'll pay roughly $0.43 per channel while receiving the greatest of sports and entertainment.

You won't have to deal with the contractual obligations that come standard with cable and satellite services, which is why it's our best choice for the Olympics.

Over-The-Air (OTA) HD TV Antenna: Cheapest

• Recommended antenna: Mohu Leaf Plus ($59.99–one-time payment)*

• Olympic channels: NBC

• Features: All local broadcast channels

Pros:

• Low, one-time price

• Local coverage

Cons: 

• No out-of-market coverage

• No DVR

An over-the-air (OTA) digital antenna is a must-have for every TV lover. It will cost you between $20 and $60, and you will be able to watch all of the Olympic action on your local NBC station.

NBC will broadcast around 200 hours of coverage at the 2022 Winter Olympics. While you'll miss out on many live events, NBC will carry 18 nightly recap episodes in primetime to ensure you don't miss any big topics. It's the ideal method to keep up with the Games when you're at work or school for the majority of the day.

Because of its longevity and range, we recommend the Mohu Leaf Plus ($59.99 on Amazon)* as our go-to antenna for most individuals, even those living outside of large cities.

Related Article: How Streaming TV Work, Recommended Streaming Services and more

Youtube TV: Best DVR

• Price:$64.99/mo.

• Olympic channels: NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Olympic Channel

• Features: Unlimited cloud DVR storage

Pros:

• Every Olympic channel

• Unlimited cloud DVR

• Recognizable interface

Cons:

• Limited regional sports networks

• No customizable plans

Because it provides unlimited DVR storage and every Olympic channel, YouTube TV is the finest live TV streaming option for viewing the Winter Olympics. You'll get 100+ channels and the ability to stream on three devices at once for $64.99 per month.

The Olympic channels themselves are quite standard across all TV providers, but YouTube's DVR is what sets it apart. Because your DVR library can hold a limitless quantity of video, it's almost as if YouTube TV was designed specifically for watching a three-week multi-sporting tournament on the other side of the world.

YouTube TV's DVR capabilities are superior to those of comparable streaming providers. Hulu + Live TV only offers 50 hours of cloud DVR storage, whereas fuboTV gives 1,000 hours. Without an unlimited DVR, it'll be easy to miss a lot of games with over 800 hours of Winter Olympics coverage on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC alone.

It's no surprise that YouTube TV is the most popular live TV streaming service.

Peacock: Editor's Choice

• Price: Free–$9.99/mo.

• Features: Live and on-demand coverage of every Olympic event

Pros:

• Every Olympic event live and on-demand

• Cheap plans

• Exclusive shows and documentaries

Cons:

• Limited original content

• Confusing interface

Peacock is the greatest overall option for watching the Winter Games because it has live and on-demand access to every Olympic event. It's a fantastic add-on service for individuals who already have a standard TV subscription. Though, because of its comprehensive coverage of the Games, the app may also be used as a stand-alone service—especially if you're wanting to save money.

You'll receive every minute of every event from the 2022 Winter Olympics with Peacock. You'll also be able to view documentaries, studio shows, and other original programming related to the Olympics. The Olympic Show, Olympic Ice, Winter Gold, and Top Highlights are the four special daily shows dedicated to Olympic programming that Peacock will debut this year.

Peacock offers three different options: a free basic plan and two premium programs. With its free, ad-supported plan, you'll receive a lot of Olympic programming. However, if you want access to all live events, you'll need to subscribe to Peacock Premium.

Peacock Premium comes in two flavors: a $4.99 a month ad-supported plan and a $9.99 a month ad-free plan. Because both plans offer the same material, the $4.99 a month plan isn't a horrible deal—especially because certain live programs will have advertising regardless of plan.

Conclusion:

You'll need Peacock Premium ($4.99 a month) to receive complete access to every Winter Olympics event. Over 2,800 hours of Olympic coverage are available on the streaming service, including studio shows and documentaries, so you'll never be bored even when live events aren't taking place.

Despite its name, Spectrum's TV Silver plan ($79.99 per month) is the gold medal winner for cable subscribers, as it includes all of NBCUniversal's Olympic networks, as well as a slew of other sports and premium channels. You'll also get a free 12-month membership to Peacock Premium from Spectrum to ensure you don't miss a single second of the Olympics this year.

YouTube TV is a less expensive option with unlimited DVR storage. Its single package costs $64.99 per month and includes all channels required to watch NBCUniversal's televised Winter Olympics programming.

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