Update: In a surprising turn of events, several of NBC's TV stations across the U.S. are refusing to air the 30 Rock special on Thursday night — the reasoning being that it promotes NBC's new streaming service Peacock too heavily. If your local NBC channel is not airing the special, check below for the list of channels which will air the reunion on Friday night instead.
Just last month, NBC announced the return of 30 Rock with a reunion special that brings the star-studded cast back for one more episode. After seven years off the air, 30 Rock stars Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer are set to reprise their roles for an hour-long special that's coming to your screen later this week.
The 30 Rock reunion special was filmed using social distancing production techniques to keep the cast and crew safe, and the episode itself doesn't shy away from the current events in the world either. In fact, the first promo shows Fey's character Liz Lemon wearing a mask while berating a man for not having one, and the rest of the episode is sure to feature some nods to the tremendous changes seen in the world since the show last aired a new episode in early 2013.
This 30 Rock special is also acting as an "Upfronts" presentation for NBC. These events usually occur in person to showcase upcoming shows from many of the major TV networks. However, since the in-person event is cancelled this year, NBC is using its 30 Rock reunion to give audiences a look at what to expect during the next TV season.
30 Rock A One-Time Special: When & where
30 Rock returns to NBC for A One-Time Special on Thursday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET. Luckily, if you miss the show airing on Thursday night, you can catch it again on Friday, July 17 at 9 p.m. ET on USA, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SyFy, CNBC, and the new NBC streaming service Peacock.
With all of the channels airing the special reunion episode on Friday night, there are plenty of streaming services to choose from if you don't currently have the ability to watch as it airs live on TV. We'll get into the best options to pick below.
How to watch 30 Rock A One-Time Special live from anywhere
The options listed below make it easy for those in the U.S. to tune in and watch the new 30 Rock reunion special, but watching from outside the U.S. is not so easy. Luckily, using a VPN makes it simple to change your location virtually, and gives you instant access to the show. Whether you are traveling or live outside of the U.S., this is what you need to know.
VPNs are incredibly easy to use and have the added benefit of giving you a further layer of security when surfing the web. There are lots of options, and we recommend ExpressVPN as our #1 pick due to its speed, security and ease of use. It can be used on a vast array of operating systems and devices (e.g. iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Roku, games consoles, etc). Sign up for ExpressVPN now now and enjoy a 49% discount and 3 months FREE with an annual subscription. Or give it a try with its 30-day money back guarantee. Looking for other affordable options?
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Live stream 30 Rock A One-Time Special in the U.S.
There are several streaming services that offer access to watch NBC live, including Sling TV and Hulu with Live TV, but access to NBC is completely dependant on where you live in the U.S. You can check each service's website beforehand to see which channels will be available in your area. It's easier to find access to channels like USA, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, and Syfy which are available on Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo TV without a location restriction. However, that would mean having to wait until Friday night at 9 p.m. ET to watch.
If you don't want to miss the first airing of the reunion special on NBC, Sling TV should be the first service you try out. You can do this absolutely free as Sling's current trial promotion offers three full days of access. You will be billed automatically if you don't cancel the service after the three-day trial period, so that's something to keep in mind.
Sling TV
Check out Sling with its free three-day trial to score access to over 45 live channels, on-demand content, and more. Plans start at $30 if you want to watch Sling whenever.
Hulu with Live TV is another great choice, though it is quite a bit more expensive than Sling TV. Plus, Sling TV's latest offer locks in the $30 cost for a full year so you don't have to worry about a sudden price increase like other live TV streaming services have seen recently.
Hulu with Live TV
Just like with Sling TV, NBC at Hulu with Live TV access is dependant on where you live in the U.S. You can check the availability before signing up. While it may not be as affordable as Sling, you get access to all of Hulu's live TV channels for one singular monthly cost. You'll also find it available on a few more devices than Sling TV, such as the Nintendo Switch.
Fubo TV
Tune in and watch 30 Rock as it airs live this Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC with Fubo TV. Your subscription gets you access to over 100 live channels including NBC, and cloud DVR access so you can watch whenver's convenient.
Fubo TV is focused on providing the best live sports streaming package there is, but there's also a number of channels for those hoping to watch something else, like 30 Rock. If you're unsure of whether it's the right move for your household, Fubo offers a free 7-day trial so you can give the service a shot without paying a cent. If you decide it's not for you, you can end the service without being charged before the week has ended.
How to watch older 30 Rock seasons
Though 30 Rock might be a bit more difficult to stream live, it's still simple enough to find past seasons to watch online. The entire show is being added to NBC's new streaming service when it debuts on Wednesday, July 15. The service, Peacock, has a completely free tier with commercials so you can rewatch the show at your leisure without paying a cent to do so. Then again, if you can't stand commercials, there's a paid, ad-free tier you can sign up for as well. The reunion special will be added to the rest of 30 Rock's seven seasons on the night of Friday, July 17.
