NBC News Now is coming to the UK, and first test transmissions for the service have been spotted on satellite.
The service launched in 2019 as a free streaming channel in the USA. The impending UK launch is its first international expansion. Unlike many other news channels in the States, NBC News Now focuses on rolling news rather than debates and opinion shows.
The channel obtained a UK broadcasting licence in December 2021. Legal responsibility for the channel rests with CNBC UK.
A launch date hasn’t yet been announced. At the time of publication, the current test transmissions relay the full NBC News Now service, with adverts replaced by trailers for NBC programmes. Sky requires new services to undergo full testing before they can be added to its Electronic Programme Guide.
NBC News Now partly fills the gap left by the abandonment of a previous joint venture between Comcast stablemates Sky and NBC. They had planned to offer viewers in the UK and around the world a new global news service, called NBC Sky World News. The service was first delayed, then cancelled in 2020.
Streamers can already access NBC News Now online.
Manual tuning information: NBC News Now
You can tune in to the test transmissions via satellite. On Sky boxes, this is done through the other channels menu. Test transmissions are subject to changes and encryption without notice.
Satellite: Astra 2E, 28.5E
Frequency: 11385
Polarisation: Horizontal
Symbol Rate: 29500
FEC: 8/9
Mode: DVB-S2 QPSK
Service ID: 53710
Broadcast in HD.
Updated at 14:23