The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off its annual festivities on Thursday, Nov. 27. But many viewers say the broadcast left a lot to be desired.
NBC started live coverage at 8:30 a.m. EST with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker. But having tuned in then, I can say the actual parade didn’t start until 9 a.m. EST.
The spectacle streamed on Peacock, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV and Sling TV. Still, the biggest online discourse hasn’t been about the floats. Folks are buzzing about the flood of commercials.
Within minutes, frustrated viewers took to Reddit to vent about the broadcast feeling more like an ad break marathon than a parade.
“Respectfully … I [couldn ‘t] care less about what you have to say I would rather see the balloons,” one viewer wrote.
“Came to see if it was just me,” another added. “Why is NBC the only network covering the parade?”
A third summed up the mood bluntly: “Worst parade in a while.”
Fans said they wanted fewer cutaways and less commentary and more of the actual parade. That frustration was amplified by the fact that this year featured several highly anticipated new floats, including Shrek, Buzz Lightyear and the viral fan-favorite K-Pop Demon Hunters (HUNTR/X) characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie. Many felt NBC barely showed them.
Several users shared alternatives for anyone fed up with NBC’s approach. Some recommended the Associated Press YouTube livestream, which features “JUST the parade, no interviews and no Broadway shows.” Others pointed viewers to The New York Walking Show’s static camera setup on 6th Avenue, offering uninterrupted, close-up views as floats passed by.
Telemundo also earned praise. “They have way fewer commercials … they voice over the floats instead of making us look at their faces,” one Redditor said.
NBC will re-air an encore of the parade at 2 p.m. EST. But for viewers with DVRs, fast-forwarding through the ads may be the only way to avoid déjà vu.
This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
