Think Shows Not Channels
With all of these options to consider, my parting advice is to think more in terms of individual shows than entire channels.
While your favorite rerun channel might not be available without cable, for instance, chances are its still available on one streaming service or another. And even if you cant watch live streams of NBC or Fox, you can still access their most popular shows shortly after they air. You can even use digital storefronts such as Apples iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies & TV, or Vudu to buy the individual shows you care about the most.
If all else fails, you can always switch to a live TV streaming service, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, or DirecTV Stream, all of which stream local channels without any hoops to jump through. But as always, the added convenience comes at a cost.
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Change The Rf Cable Slot
There is a high chance that you inserted your cable or antenna in the wrong slot. There are two slots, ANT 1 IN and ANT 2 IN .
Whatever you are using, antenna or cable, make sure to insert it in the right spot.
Take the RF input that is currently connected and plug it into the other one. Then, scroll up and find a step-by-step guide to discovering a channel.
Ensure to select the corresponding input. That is, air for antenna and cable if youre using one. We recommend you choose both to avoid time wastage.
Watch Free With Network TV Apps
While you typically cant stream your local network through the apps below, they offer some free content. In most cases, the latest seasons of primetime shows are available to watch through these apps free. However, while there is free content, dont expect them to have everything you want to watch available.
NBC App
You can watch several NBC Shows using the NBC app or at NBC.com. They make you wait 8 days before watching the most current episode, but the full-length episodes are available for the current shows free on most streaming devices. You just need to search your devices channel store for the NBC App.
Current episodes for the following shows latest season were available through the NBC app: American Ninja Warrior, Connecting, Dateline NBC, Ellens Game of Games, This Is Us, Transplant, The Voice, The Wall, and Weakest Link.
ABC App
While the ABC app requires a TV provider login for some content, current episodes of ABC shows available free. A lock symbol identifies which episodes require you to link your participating TV provider account. However, Locked episodes for most shows will become available to watch without signing into your participating TV provider account 8 days after the episode first airs on TV.
The shows look to keep at least the last 5 episodes available free. You can download the app to your mobile or streaming device or watch on ABCs website.
Fox App
The Fox Now App is available on most streaming platforms.
CBS App
The CW
PBS
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Watch Local Channels Online Through Streaming Services
If you have already have streaming services like Hulu or Netflix you may be able to watch TV programmings from your local stations as well.
You can easily watch shows on your laptop or tablet, but you might prefer to watch shows on your TV.
There two main ways to do this.
- Get local stations using your laptop
Theres a super simple way to watch the content that networks post online and from streaming services, like Hulu, through your TV.
All you need is your laptop and an HDMI cable, which you can pick up on Amazon for less than $7, and internet connection.
Dont have or dont want to pay for the internet? Reads our post on how to get free internet access.
Simply connect your laptop to the TV using an HDMI cable, and play the show youre interested in. Your TV will display what your laptop screen is displaying.
Theres an article here that you should definitely check out. It goes into more detail about how to set it up.
- Get local stations on Roku
As mentioned above, apps like Hulu and Netflix offer some broadcast network shows.
While you can use the above method to stream content to your TV, you can also use Roku.
Its a set-top box that acts as a streaming player. Essentially, you use this device to connect to different video streaming services over the internet, using apps or channels, as Roku calls them.
Your Roku device streams content directly to your TV.
You can also visit this page if you want to learn more about how Roku works.
How To Get Local Channels On A Samsung TV
Samsung TVs of today come with a plethora of streaming services and content providers for you to enjoy. However, sometimes you might want to watch local channels on your TV. Whether your Samsung is a smart TV or a non-smart one, there are multiple ways to watch local TV channels on it. The question of how is what we are going to answer here today.
Getting your Samsung TV to run local channels may require purchasing additional components and devices. Read on to learn what you need to do to get local channels on Samsung TVs.
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How Do I Get Local TV Channels On My Smart TV
Fortunately, smart TVs have built-in antennas for many local stations. This makes it easy to watch local channels, but it is not always as straightforward as it seems. Depending on the model and operating system, some of these channels are also available as downloadable apps. Other options include streaming services like Hulu Live TV or YouTube TV. These are the best ways to watch your favorite local channels.
If you are looking to watch local television on a smart TV for less than $100, you can use an HD antenna. Most antennas have built-in HD tuners, and they rarely produce grainy pictures. However, to get high-quality broadcasts, you need to mount the antenna outside in an area with minimal interference, such as a park. Moreover, you must install a free app that gives you access to all local TV stations programming, including live broadcasts. You will need an internet connection to enjoy these services.
Another method is to buy an HD antenna. These devices are inexpensive and are best if you live in an area with weak signal reception. They usually cost $20, but they are not ideal for most households. They also have a high risk of causing grainy images because they must be installed outdoors and surrounded by minimal interference. If your city has poor reception, you might have to purchase a satellite dish or cable TV service to get local channels.
How Can I Get TV Channels Without An Antenna
While you wont need an antenna, you will need an internet connection that is set up to your television set. There are platforms you can take advantage of, such as Freeview, which launched the new FV service over the web. It brings together live streams and catch-up services from more than 20 FTA TV channels.
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How To Scan For Channels From An Antenna On Your Samsung TV
TV Shows From Nbc On Peacock
Peacock, the new streaming service from NBCUniversal, has a free tier that carries current seasons of NBC shows, news and sports. You wont find your local news station, but the NBC programming is free.
Under the free plan, current NBC shows will air new episodes one week after they air on cable and live TV services.
The free plan on Peacock may not have your local NBC station, but you will get highlights from NBC Nightly News, NBC Sports, Meet the Press, CNBC, MSNBC, E! News and Noticias Telemundo.
Peacock also has two other plans. Peacock Premium has more movies and TV shows. New episodes of NBC shows air one day after they appear on cable.
Peacock Premium Plus has all the same shows and movies, but removes most advertising except for a select few.
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Ways To Watch Local TV Without Cable Or Satellite
by Lauren Bennett – Last Updated July 2, 2020
Getting fed up with expensive cable bills?
Wish there was a way you could watch your local TV stations without cable or antenna?
Youre not alone!
More and more people are cutting the cord and finding alternative ways to watch TV without cable. Although there are also ways to get basic cable for free.
Most of it has to do with the expensive cable bills and the way cable companies package their plans.
The average monthly cable bill is a staggering $99 and thats an expense that most of us could do without.
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How Do I Get Normal TV On My Samsung Smart TV
If you have a Samsung Smart TV and you would like to watch normal television, you can do it by selecting the option Receive normal TV. Your TV will then scan for available channels and add them to the list under TV Plus. Live channels are also available, but you must have an antenna for this. To get a good reception, you need to switch to a satellite or cable provider, but if you do not have an antenna, you can still receive broadcast TV through the Internet.
If you have a cable television, you can connect your antenna to the RF connector on the back of the TV. Alternatively, you can connect your antenna to the ANT IN port on the back of your television. When connected, youll be able to watch cable TV on your Samsung Smart TV. If the signal isnt good, you may need to purchase a One Connect Box.
The next step is to connect the cable or antenna to your Samsung Smart TV. Then, youll be prompted to insert the cable or antenna. To watch normal television, you must select the correct input or both, if possible. If you are unsure of which input to use, restart your TV. Then, if you have any trouble, try the same procedure. And if you still dont get any channels, you can try turning off the RF or cable connections.
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Can You Get Local Channels On Hulu
Hulu is a TV, movies, and streaming service. It is designed to work with an antenna and is free to use. You can get local channels on Hulu. Hulu doesnt carry cable/satellite channels.If you want to watch your local channels on Hulu, we suggest you go over some of the local antenna options available and choose one that works best for you.
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Do Smart TVs Need An Aerial For Freeview
If you wish to receive Freeview through your smart TV, you will also need an aerial to do so. You dont require an aerial to watch these services. This is because you will be streaming content from the internet. You will need an aerial to watch live TV in your area.
How to Get TV Reception Without Cable
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How To Get Local Channels On Samsung Smart TV Full
- Appliances, Blog Post, TV and Audio
- 12 min read
If you want free television shows, movies, sports, and news, there isnt anything quite as good as the free channels that can be obtained using an antenna, even if you have a cable or satellite provider.
Despite the fact that there are a variety of options, both large and little, all of the best TV antennas connect to the television in the same way.
You may either set up over-the-air channels at the same time as you are setting up your television, or you could set up over-the-air channels at a later time.
Heres how to go about it:
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Do Smart TVs Come Equipped With Built
Uploading free-to-air channels to a Samsung TV is simple. Because the virtual tuner is integrated, Samsung intelligent TVs may acquire a virtual broadcast without the need for a hard and fast-pinnacle container.
Remember that we are the most experienced users of antennas in Australia, thus we will not provide a guidebook on how to add channels through a cable company.
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Connect A Cable Or Antenna And Scan For Channels
Important: The Broadcasting menu will be greyed out if you do not first change the source to TV.
Channels and broadcasts just don’t magically appear on your TV. You have to connect an antenna or cable and then scan for local stations. Once you do this, available channels nearby will be yours to watch!
First, make sure you have an antenna or a cable box already installed and set up to go. You may need to attach a coax cable to the antenna or box if it doesn’t come with one.
When you’re ready, connect the other end of the coax cable to the ANT IN port on the back of your TV, or One Connect Box if you have one.
Change the source on your TV to TV. There are a few ways to do this.
You can press the button on your remote and then select the source labeled TV.
You can press Home, navigate to , and then select TV.
Once you are on the TV source, use the directional pad or arrow buttons on your remote to select Settings.
Select Broadcasting, and then select Auto Program.
Select Start to begin auto-programming, and then select either Air, Cable, or Both.
Select Air if you are using an antenna only.
Select Cable if you are using a cable box only.
Select Both if you are using an antenna and a cable box. You will get the most channels this way.
Your TV will begin to scan for channels. After it’s done, select Close to finish.
If you aren’t getting a good signal or see an error message on your TV, check out our troubleshooting guide.
How To Watch Local TV Without Cable
When I was researching local cable company pricing for this post, I found that most of the cable companies where I live charge $60 per month just for viewing local TV channels.
Bigger packages started at about $75 per month, and that didnt include taxes, fees, installation charges, and monthly equipment rental fees.
As you can see, a cable or satellite TV package can get expensive quickly, even when you just want to have a better quality reception to watch local TV channels.
So, what are your alternatives? Here are some top ideas.
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Option : Try Freebie Services Such As Amazon News And Newson
If its local news that youre after, you may be able to get by with some of the programming from emerging free streaming services.
Amazon News is the latest of these to offer free news updates from local channels in 158 U.S. markets.
To access this feature, youll need the Amazon News app that is located on the Fire TV Streaming devices.
Once youre on the app, youll be able to choose from a menu of local channel newsfeeds. Typically, youre offered the channels that are closest to your location.
In my case, I was able to get news and weather from my local CBS affiliate for free.
Keep in mind that this is not actually a live stream of the channels over-the-air broadcast.
Instead, its highlights and clips from newscasts and other local programming.
If youre a Roku user, there is a similarly interesting option there called NewsON that touts access to more than 275 local news sources across the country.
Network TV Shows On Streaming Services
If youre willing to pay for a subscription or two, you can also stream network TV shows the day after they air on cable, and can even skip the commercials:
- Hulu offers next-day access to ABC and Fox shows for $7 per month with ads, or $13 per month without ads.
- Peacock Premium offers next-day access to NBC shows for $5 per month with ads, or $10 per month without ads
- Paramount+ offers next-day access to CBS shows for $5 per month with ads, or $10 per month without ads, with a live local CBS stream also included in the pricier tier. Note that you can pretty much always get Paramount+ for free
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