Best Ways to Watch Local Channels Without Cable

This article details the top streaming services that offer local TV channels, plus how to access free local channels if you’re not a subscriber.

Sling TV

Starting Price: $19.99 per month

The folks at Sling TV have been providing an alternative to standard cable services since 2015. Offering a variety of different packages, customers can download the company’s app to many different devices to access their favorite local channels.

Sling provides a couple of different offerings for prospective buyers so that users can always find what fits their lifestyle and viewing habits best. In addition to accessing standard cable shows, Sling TV offers add-ons for sports, kids, news, international coverage, and more.

The best aspect of Sling TV is its vast availability for different hardware and platforms, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One, Android TV, Oculus, iOS, Chromecast, and Android.

Hulu + Live TV

Starting Price: $88.99 per month

If you are already a subscriber to Hulu’s video service and are enjoying it, the next logical step to obtain local channels is to add Live TV. Known for allowing you to watch and access your favorite television shows on demand, Hulu offers a Live TV option for those who don’t want to leave the option behind. Available as an add-on to Hulu’s streaming library, live TV can be accessed with the click of a button once signed up.

Hulu offers over 95 local and cable channels based on your physical location, with add-ons that include an enhanced Cloud DVR, premium entertainment channels, and international television. Hulu is available on most streaming boxes and gaming platforms, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One, Chromecast, iOS, and Android.

YouTube TV

Starting Price: $82.99 per month

A website known for its user-generated content also offers the option for live television streaming. If you spend most of your free time browsing YouTube and subscribing to your favorite creators, then it might make sense that live TV is only a click away.

With multiple accounts for a single household and an unlimited DVR space, YouTube TV offers a variety of local channels based on your physical location. Additional add-ons for sports and premium entertainment networks are also available.

As with other service offerings, YouTube TV is widely accessible; it is available on platforms and devices including Android TV, Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox One, Android, and iOS.

DIRECTV

Starting Price: $89.99 per month

Best known for its cable television offerings, DIRECTV enables customers to forgo the cable box, connecting to their live television offerings over the internet via a streaming media box. As the closest option to a standard cable offering, DIRECTV presents the most impressive possibilities with packages that include over 160 channels.

If you’re apprehensive about cutting the cable cord and switching to a new online offering, DIRECTV might be enough to give you the satisfaction of a few savings with a more typical TV experience.

The compatible devices for DIRECTV include Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Android, and iOS devices. DIRECTV is an excellent option if you’re after local channels, but be sure to keep an eye on the package you subscribe to, as you might find yourself paying more than what you had for standard cable.

The CW

Starting Price: Free

The CW is a network that has a hit lineup of shows featuring original content. It’s difficult for comic fans to ignore the network’s list of material, including The Flash, Supergirl, and Arrow. The CW has taken a different approach for cord-cutters, offering its content for free; no strings attached, no subscriptions required.

It is worth noting that The CW only provides the last few available episodes of their shows to stream, so if you want to start watching a show from the beginning, you might need to find another source to get caught up first. Yeah, that’s weird, we know.

You can download The CW app for your TV or mobile device. It works on Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, smart TVs, and other devices.

Paramount+

Starting Price: $12.99 per month

Formerly CBS All Access, Paramount+ gives you on-demand access to CBS classics like Blue Bloods, Big Bang Theory, and Star Trek: Discovery, in addition to hundreds of movies from Paramount. You can also watch live local CBS broadcasts (with the Premium plan) to catch your favorite shows as they air.

With over 40,000 episodes and movies available on demand, including CBS originals, Paramount+ is a great way to grab your favorite content.

You can begin your watching experience on Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Roku, and mobile devices.

Peacock

Starting Price: $16.99 per month

NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service provides access to your local NBC channel if you subscribe to Peacock Premium Plus. Unlike these other options, Peacock does not offer other local channels. Still, it’s an ideal option if you’re only after NBC because you’ll also get ad-free access to on-demand content like movies and Peacock Originals.

Peacock is available in your web browser and smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming devices, and game consoles.

Another Option to Get Free Local Channels

You don’t really need cable or a streaming service to get local television. You can set up a digital HD antenna to take advantage of over-the-air free signals.

Commonly known as bunny-ears, today’s antennas are pretty sophisticated and able to pick up full digital 1080i HD broadcasts. Best of all, antenna designs have come a long way since the past, with some even sporting elegant, artsy designs that fit in with your media setup.

Use a website like the FCC’s DTV Reception Maps to understand which channels your antenna should be able to pick up before making a purchase.

If using an antenna isn’t a viable option for you, here are some other ideas for watching free local channels:

• Most of the streaming services above let you take advantage of a trial. This will give you free local channels for anywhere from a few days to a month.
• NewsON is a free service that includes local news from hundreds of stations across the US.
• Live TV channels are also free on Tubi. Over 100 free local channels are available for news coverage. There’s also live sports and channels for comedy, games, movies, and more.
• You can catch some local news on Pluto. For example, CBS News New York, Los Angeles, and Boston are available for free.