How to Watch SNL Live in Season 52: NBC, Peacock, West Coast and No Cable
SNL airs live on NBC and on Peacock at the same time, Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET. That is 10:30 p.m. Central, 9:30 p.m. Mountain and 8:30 p.m. Pacific, per NBC. Peacock posts new episodes the next day, and it is the only place to stream the show's older seasons.
That covers most viewers. The rest of this page is the detail: what each way of watching gets you, how the West Coast fits in, and what to do if you don't have cable.
How can you watch SNL live?
Two ways, both live. The first is NBC itself, on a local NBC station through cable, satellite, a live TV service or an antenna. The second is Peacock, which NBC lists as a live simulcast of the Saturday show. NBC's own guide for Season 52 says the show "airs live across time zones," so a Pacific viewer is not waiting for a delayed feed.
| Way to watch | Live? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| NBC (cable, satellite, antenna) | Yes | Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET; the local NBC station carries it |
| Peacock | Yes (simulcast) | NBC lists Peacock alongside NBC for the live show |
| Peacock, next day | No | New episodes are posted the following day, so Sunday for a Saturday show |
| Older seasons | No | NBC says the full back catalog is exclusive to Peacock |
What time does SNL start in each time zone?
NBC gives the same moment for every zone. The times below are for any Saturday with a new episode.
| Time zone | SNL starts (Saturday) |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 11:30 p.m. |
| Central | 10:30 p.m. |
| Mountain | 9:30 p.m. |
| Pacific | 8:30 p.m. |
Arizona and Hawaii are not in NBC's list, so we don't put a time on them. Check your local NBC station's schedule if you live there. The show is scheduled to run until about 1 a.m. ET. For who is on those nights, see who is hosting SNL this week.
Is SNL live on the West Coast?
Yes, per NBC. The network says the show goes out live coast to coast at 8:30 p.m. Pacific, not on a three-hour tape delay. A local station can still choose to run something else in its own market, so if the show isn't where you expect, the station's own listing is the answer.
How can you watch SNL without cable?
Three options, none of which needs a cable box.
An antenna. NBC is a broadcast network, so a local NBC station comes over the air for free where you can pick it up. That gets you the live show on the same clock as everyone else.
Peacock. NBC names it as the second live home for the show. We don't list Peacock prices here because the plans and prices change, and which plan includes the live feed is spelled out on Peacock's own plans page at peacocktv.com.
A live TV streaming service. Services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling and Fubo sell packages that include local channels in many markets. Whether yours includes your local NBC station depends on where you live, and each service has a channel lookup by ZIP code. Check it before you pay.
Can you watch SNL the next day?
Yes. NBC says first-run episodes hit Peacock the day after they air, so Sunday morning for a Saturday show. The next new Saturdays are Oct. 3, Oct. 10 and Oct. 31; NBC lists no new episode for Oct. 17 or Oct. 24, as laid out on our new-or-rerun page. The full list of who is hosting is on the Season 52 hosts page.
Quick questions
Is SNL on Peacock live? Yes, NBC lists Peacock as a live simulcast of the Saturday show, with the full episode next day.
Can I watch old SNL episodes? Yes, on Peacock. NBC says every season is there and exclusive to it.
Is SNL on every Saturday? No. Reruns fill some Saturdays, so check the schedule before you settle in.
This page sits in our Where to watch section. Corrections go to the address on the about page, and the rules we follow are on how we make this.
Sources · NBC Insider — how to watch Season 52 · The Futon Critic — NBC listings for Saturday Night Live · NBC Insider — Season 52 hosts