Best Ways to Watch Local Channels on a Smart TV (Free & Paid Options)

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Watch your favorite local stations without an antenna or cable

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: July 8, 2024 Fact Checked

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Free Local TV Apps

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Cable Replacement Services

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Indoor TV Antennas

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Video

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Tips

Even though you can watch almost anything on Netflix, MAX, and Hulu, your streaming subscriptions don't usually offer local TV channels. But what if you have a smart TV and want to catch some local, over-the-air programming? Even if you don't have an antenna, there are still easy ways to get local channels on your smart TV. Read on to learn about our favorite options.

Watch Live Local Channels on a Smart TV: Easy Options

Without an antenna, you can watch local news and weather channels free through NewsON, Local Now, The Roku Channel, Zeam, or the channel's own app. Subscribe to a cable replacement service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV for even more local channels.

Section 1 of 3:

Free Local TV Apps

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Watch local news channels on nearly any smart TV or streaming device with the free NewsON app. You can check out the channel list at https://corporate.newson.us/newson-channel-list/. Search your TV app store for "NewsON" to get started.
This free news app is available in nearly all smart TV app stores, including on Fire TV, Roku, LG, Hisense, Android, and Sony TVs. Once you download the app, create an account and select Local News to discover what's happening in your area. You can also tune in using a web browser at https://www.haystack.tv/localnews.

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Watch local news and weather on your Fire TV, Roku TV, Apple TV, or Android/Google TV by installing the Local Now app from your app store.^{[1]
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Research source} In addition to local news, you can also watch free movies and TV shows from their large library.
If you have a Roku TV or streaming device and live in a major metropolitan area, you can watch local news and weather from FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC without installing any apps. Just select the Live TV tile on your home screen, or open The Roku Channel, press the Left button on your remote, and select Live TV.^{[2]
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The Zeam app, available on Android/Google TV, Roku TV, Fire TV, and Apple TV, offers local news channels from many areas, even small towns, and gives you the option to watch local news from regions other than your own.
Search your smart TV's app store for your favorite channel. Many channels offer smart TV apps that allow you to watch live programming without an antenna. You can download apps from major broadcasters like CBS, NBC, and PBS, as well as smaller local channels exclusive to your area.

Section 2 of 3:

Cable Replacement Services

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YouTube TV. This popular cable TV replacement service brings over 100 live TV channels to your smart TV without an antenna, including many local channels.^{[3]
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Research source} To see which local channels you can watch with YouTube TV, go to https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/ and search for your zip code.
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Hulu + Live TV. A subscription gets you access to everything in Hulu's library, Disney+, live local channels without an antenna, and almost 100 other live and on-demand channels.^{[4]
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Research source} Find out which local channels you get with Hulu + Live TV at https://www.hulu.com/live-tv.
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Fubo. You can watch your local ABC, CBS, FOX, CW, Telemundo, and Univision channels with any of Fubo's base plans.^{[5]
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Research source} You'll have access to more than 100 other live channels and a cloud-based DVR service.^{[6]
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Sling. Depending on where you live, you may be able to watch local channels with a Sling subscription without an antenna—to find out, go to https://www.sling.com/programming/local-channels and search for your zip code. If local channels aren't available, Sling will send you a free HD antenna when you sign up.^{[7]
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Research source} And with plans starting as low as $20/month, it's definitely the most affordable cable replacement service.
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DIRECTV Stream. If it's regional sports channels you're after, DIRECTV Stream carries 30+ regional sports networks, as well as your local ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, and other channels.^{[8]
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Research source} Visit https://streamtv.directv.com/channels/ to find out which local channels are available through DIRECTV Stream.
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Paramount+. Subscribe to Paramount+ with Showtime to watch your local CBS channel live, as well as live sports and CBS News without an antenna.^{[9]
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Peacock Premium Plus. Peacock's most advanced streaming plan offers 24/7 live streaming of your local NBC channel.^{[10]
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Research source} If you just want to watch NBC programming—including Saturday Night Live as it airs—Peacock Premium Plus is a great option.
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Section 3 of 3:

Indoor TV Antennas

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Antennas aren't as big or expensive as they used to be. All TVs manufactured after 2007 have built-in digital tuners, which means all you'll need to do is connect a small indoor antenna to the TV to watch all your area's local programming.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source

Federal Communications Commission
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications

Go to source} While you may picture having to mount a giant antenna or dish outside your home to receive local channels over the air, modern digital antennas can easily be connected to your smart TV, and some can even pick up TV stations from nearly 1000 miles away.
- You can find tons of smart TV antennas on Amazon at various price points, starting as low as $10.

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Tips

If a streaming app isn't available for your smart TV brand, you can usually install it on your Android, iPhone, or iPad, and mirror the screen to your TV.

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