Now TV is the latest, cheapest, and possibly the simplest live TV package Comcast's Xfinity is offering exclusively to its customers. At $20/month, it gives you access to more than 40 cable channels, 20 hours of DVR, and a subscription to Peacock Premium at no additional cost. The main draw, however, is that it is completely cordless. You don't need to buy extra equipment and pay the installation fees that come with it, nor are you required to sign an annual agreement tying you down to this one service. If it's not to your liking, you can cancel it anytime.
It sounds simple enough, but learning about Now TV can be confusing because of two things. One is that it's fairly new, and two is that the brand is imported from the UK. But while their Now TV looks the same, it operates very differently from its US counterpart.
So, what exactly is Xfinity's Now TV? What comes with it, what doesn't, how can you get it, and is it ultimately worth it? We're here to give you the rundown on this service so you can decide for yourself.
Summary:
- Price: $20 per month (exclusive of taxes)
- Channels: More than 40 cable channels, including A&E, AMC, The Food Network, HGTV, History, Discovery, and TLC
- How to sign up: You can sign up on their website
Who can get Now TV?
You have to be subscribed to a postpaid Xfinity Internet plan to access Now TV. This excludes Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials+. If you're not on Xfinity yet, you can browse through their
plans and see if anything is to your liking.
How to subscribe to Now TV?
If you're an Xfinity Internet postpaid user, you can sign into your account online, add Now TV to your cart, and check it out instantly. After that, you can download the Xfinity Stream app for free and stream Now TV from there. You can watch Now TV on up to three devices at the same time.
The Xfinity Stream app is compatible with most streaming devices, but it works best on Xumo and Amazon Fire TV.
How much does Now TV cost?
Now TV costs $20/month, plus taxes. That could cost you an extra $2-$4 on the monthly billing.
Can you get Now TV without a TV box?
Yes. Since Now TV is fully cordless, you don't need a TV box, receiver, satellite, or physical DVR device to start watching.
Channel lineup
Now TV also gives you access to more than 40 live cable channels, which we've listed in their entirety below. Though the lineup is notably lacking in the news and sports department, Now TV makes up for it by throwing in a Peacock Premium subscription for free. And to its credit, Peacock has a competitive coverage of live sports, but more on that later.
- A&E
- Afro
- AMC
- Animal Planet
- Aspire
- BBC America
- BBC News
- Comedy.TV
- Cooking Channel
- Crime+Investigation
- Discovery Channel
- Discovery Life Channel
- Food Network
- Fyi
- GetTV
- Great American Family
- Great American Living
- GSN
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Drama
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- HGTV
- History Channel
- ID
- IFC
- Justice Central TV
- Lifetime
- LMN
- Magnolia Network
- Military History Channel
- Motortrend
- OWN
- Pursuit
- Recipe.TV
- Science Channel
- Sony Movies
- Sundance Channel
- TLC
- Travel Channel
- The Weather Channel
- UPtv
- Vice
- WETV
Does Now TV have local channels?
No, Now TV doesn't carry local channels.
Does Now TV have add-on channels?
At the moment, no, Now TV doesn't give you the option to add premium channels for an extra fee.
UPDATE: As of May 2024, Now TV gives you the option to add the StreamSaver bundle to your subscription for just $30/month, which shaves $10 off its standalone price. The bundle contains Netflix Basic, Peacock Premium, and Apple TV+ at a 30% discounted rate.
Does Now TV have cloud DVR?
Yes, it does, 20 hours worth. With the Xfinity Stream app, you can also watch your recordings offline or on-the-go on your mobile device. Just be careful not to go beyond the allocated hours, since Xfinity can charge you extra for that.
Does Now TV have live sports?
Yes. With your free Peacock Premium subscription, you can watch Premier League, Sunday Night Football, Big Ten, PGA Tour, WWE, rugby, cycling, golf, and horse racing matches.
How do I access Peacock Premium with Now TV?
You have to activate your Peacock account via an email you'll receive after purchasing Now TV. Once that's settled, you can log into Peacock's standalone app and start watching on the platform (as of this writing, Peacock Premium is valued at $5.99/month). Aside from live sports, Peacock also has NBC sitcoms, Bravo reality shows, DreamWorks animated movies, and
original shows.
If you already have a paid Peacock subscription, you'll have to cancel your existing subscription first before enjoying this offer.
What's the difference between Now TV and Xfinity Choice TV?
The main difference is that Now TV is cordless and equipment-free, while
Choice TV requires a receiver or TV box to operate. That's because, unlike Now TV, it streams local TV channels and major national networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC.
Instead of
full-blown live TV packages like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV, think of Now TV as a
skinny bundle that's closer to the likes of Frndly TV and Philo.
Does Now TV offer a free trial?
No, but be sure to check their website for seasonal deals and surprise discounts.
Can you get Now TV without Xfinity Internet?
No, you'd have to be subscribed to an eligible Xfinity postpaid plan to get Now TV. The StreamSaver bundle, however, lets you access all of the above Now TV plus Peacock Netflix, and Apple TV+ with an internet plan for just $55/month.
What is Now Internet?
Now Internet is a contract-free Internet prepaid plan that gives you access to 100Mbps for $30/month or 200Mbps for $45/month. It's Xfinity's answer to customers wanting a more affordable and flexible plan than their usual offers. It's available nationwide, but it's best to check first if you're area is covered.
Can you get Now Internet without Now TV?
Yes, you can. Alternatively, you can get Now TV with a Now Internet subscription.
Is Now Internet worth it?
Yes. At just $30/month, it's currently the cheapest unlimited prepaid internet plan in the US. If you're only using the net for basic surfing and streaming, then 100Mbps (with no data cap, mind you) should be okay. It's also contract-free, meaning you can cancel it anytime. The only downside is that it's not available everywhere, and it might be difficult for existing Xfinity internet customers to make the switch. You'd also have to use the modem they send, though thankfully there are no rental fees for the additional equipment.
