Most cord-cutters know there are plenty of ways to watch popular movies and television shows without cable. Netflix and Hulu have made it easy to check out big-budget Hollywood films, and services like Max have freed TV binge-watchers from the clutches of the cable companies. But what about local content? Many cord-cutters don't know how to watch local channels without cable, and may not even realize they can.
The truth is that you have a bunch of ways to watch local channels online and over the air. Thanks to the rise in skinny bundles and the resurgence in popularity of over-the-air TV, cord- cutters are once again enjoying local news and other local programming without having to crawl back to traditional pay-TV providers like cable and satellite companies. This is our complete guide to watching local channels without cable.
How to Watch Local Channels Online and Over the Air Without Cable
There are three basic ways to get your local channels without signing up with a traditional pay- TV provider like a cable or satellite company. We'll cover each of them in the list below, starting with a group that may require a bit of explanation: skinny bundles.
Skinny bundles are streaming solutions that resemble cable and satellite subscriptions almost everywhere except for on your monthly bill. Skinny bundles tend to be slimmer than cable packages (hence the name), ditching some of the less important channels and keeping a core group of popular networks available for far less than the cable giants charge. Among the key channels featured in these slimmed-down bundles are local major network (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) affiliates from around the country. The bad news is that availability of live local major network feeds will vary by region, but the good news is that it's easy to check out the selection in your region.
Here's all the ways you can watch local channels without cable today:
Can I Watch Local Channels on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
You can watch your local channels on a variety of devices, because sometimes you just need to check out the latest episode of a show when you’re not in front of your TV at home. Whether you have a Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, or anything in between, you can catch your favorite local channels.
Speaking of different devices and platforms, be sure to check out our device-specific guides for even more information on how to watch local channels online:
More to Watch for Local TV Fans
The bulk of this article has covered what’s known as the Big Four Networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. But there’s at least one more English-language network that’s worth mentioning, even though it’s not mentioned as regularly as the other four. That network is CW, or sometimes “The CW,” because apparently the network views itself as comparable to The Ohio State University. The network is known for shows like “Riverdale” and “Supergirl” that often appeal to a younger audience than, say, “Blue Bloods” on CBS. But there’s stuff to like on CW no matter your age, so check out our guide to watching the CW without cable to get more info.
Help. We cut our $155 DirecTV TV bill with a ClearStream 4MAX extreme range outdoor HD antenna. We installed, connected, scanned, but when we go to watch the signal breaks up after about 10 minutes and we get a message that says “weak or no signal go to broadcast and scan signals.” I hoped we would hold a signal better than that. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Sandi,
We have a piece that could be useful in your situation: How to Get Clear TV Antenna Reception: Essential Tips and Troubleshooting Techniques.
You need to find the direction of where the signals are broadcast from. You’re dealing with towers not satellite. Here’s how it works. When you have a reciever dish for satellite the station sends the signal to a dish to satellite, the satellite has transponders it chose the strongest signal and redirects that to your dish reciever that signal goes to you’re box the box differentiates as the signal may be strong or weak so in modern boxes they auto adjust. On a cellphone the signal goes to a tower the tower to the satellite then to a tower then to your cellphone. If the phone notes a weak signal the phone Powers up a stronger signal. In you’re situation you dealing with obstacles as towers don’t release or emit a straight signal. I emits a circular wave pattern like a pebble in a smooth pond. Any obstacles prohibit the signal from being recieved fully and distance, mountains,buildings,trees and bad weather will interfere. If your using a digital reciever your issues will be as above AND auto traffic with digital handsfree phone systems, aircraft, weather, smartphones and or anything running close to you’re reciever. You need to place the device to the highest location in you’re home and with no obstacles like in a window on the side of the home where the towers are located. Example, in Vineland N.J. you have cities northwest, northeast, and Southwest. Now you antennae will only pickup a good signal from about 40 to 65 miles. So pick the closest large city and direct your antennae there. Your major cities run repeaters and boosters so you should pick up your major and a few minor stations. To avoid all of the above, which I felt by explaining it would better assist you in knowing how electronics function and to what capacity . Go to an electronics store purchase a signal booster that will boost and filter your channels and that should take care of you’re situation. What I do is I’m on unlimited data on my cell, I can tether or go WiFi, so then I go to my computer accept the wifi change it to mobile hotspot 146 miles away and watch all the tv I want in HD. That way for 70.00 a month I have hundreds of channels and music, unlimited calls, text and data . I’m located in a valley, my regular towers are Northwest, and everything affects it. Oh, and the computer I use is 14 years old, and I have to run a cable to the largescreen monitor but hey, I get better TV and more tv in HD than all of my neighbors who pawn their hubcaps to pay for direct TV, plus I don’t get blocked out on any sports .
Very good! I wish I was as smart as you , idk how to tether and have too many people in the house using TVs anyways like 5 . Thinking about Roku but I’m not sure how to stream channels?
Where is the reference to LOCAST. It replaces ugly outdoor antennas which do not work well in the Pacific Nortwest, in addition to indoor antennas which do not work either.
Local tv stations should be happy with LOCAST as it improves picture quality including advertising.
no locast in seattle :c
There is now.
Not in Minneapolis. How about now?
How do we find out if the channels we want will work? Such as Foxnews live?
Am I correct in thinking I still need “internet” to stream anything mentioned here?
To stream on any of the streaming services listed, yes, you’ll need internet — but you don’t need internet to use an antenna!
I am finding antenna does not work where i live it goes in and out plus some antennas did not pick up anything, i am on the second floor of 3 floors bldg facing straight north, i am trying to find something that i can mostly only get network channels on my TV without paying high cable bills, i have internet and phone both on cable company but want to get rid of cable and get only network channels without antenna which does not work here. Any suggestions ?
I always want to be updated with local news but I’m barely home to check it out on television. I never knew that skinny bundles are streaming solutions that are almost the same with cable and satellite subscriptions except for the monthly bill. This seems interesting, but I also opt to find a website where it possible to watch local news videos. https://inewz.tv/
UStvnow.com has five free channels. ABC, CBS, CW, PBS, and MyTv. They also have other packages that includes recording
These are all free, the bigger packages have recording available for a price
Do any people get local channels with a Rabbit Ears Antenna, and then just pay for the rest of the services they want to stream live?
This is a great way to do it!
I think what most people don’t understand, is the frequencies being broadcast don’t travel well over hills or mountains. So if you do receive a signal your smart tv will let you know just how strong that signal is. Also antennas are very directional so ideally they need to be motorized to pickup strong or weak signals.
Simply Search local tv stations for any area, then, go to their website and watch the live feed. Simple and no app or subscription needed.
For those of you recommending locast, I just went to their site and the site denied me because I wanted to watch out of area TV stations. I live in wa but want to watch MI tv because I am moving there soon. LOCAST = NOCAST.
Change your tv setting to mi..turn of tv..restart locast and set to mi..should resolve the problem.
Such good Information.
Change your T.V setting to MI..turn of T.V..restart locast and set to mi..should resolve the problem.