How To Watch Local Television Online For Free
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Key Takeaways
- Local stations offer content for free on their websites and apps. These are seldom live streams, however, but mostly curated clips of past news, weather, and sports.
- Prime time shows carried by local stations are behind paywalls but accessible with free trials.
- There are some good options for watching free local television online, but these are mostly ad supported, ask for donations, or only available in certain markets.
Cable TV as we know it today may be on its way out.
Ironically, as more customers drop their cable service, cable providers have been raising their average monthly bill . Its almost like theyre determined to squeeze every last dollar out of the market before it dries up entirely.
Tired of the squeeze, more Americans are cutting the cord and telling their pay TV providers to get lost. Instead of a high monthly cable bill for hundreds of channels they dont watch, viewers are opting for an à la carte approach, subscribing to channels they do want.
While its a good start for cord cutting, its important to remember that most people are simply changing who they pay for entertainment: after all, most streaming channels still require monthly fees.
If you have the budget for it, and your viewing interests can be satisfied with a small handful of subscriptions , then its a viable way to reduce your entertainment expenses.
Using Your Cable Service
Xfinity Cable Subscribers
AT& T U-verse Subscribers
Time Warner Cable Subscribers
Network Shows News And More
So long as the video streaming service you choose offers affiliate broadcast channels in your market, you can watch all your favorite network shows from the likes of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Most of the services here, including YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV host these networks. YouTube TV is the only services we’ve reviewed that include local PBS channels.
Other television channels aren’t dependent on your geographic location. Philo is an excellent option for watching such entertainment networks, including AMC, Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, and Travel Channel. Many video streaming services with entertainment channels also include on-demand content from those channels that you can watch at your leisure and record to DVR storage. Other services combine live TV with more traditional on-demand libraries. A subscription to Hulu + Live TV, for instance, allows you to watch all the shows and movies from Hulu’s on-demand service, including its original shows.
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How To Watch Prime Time Shows And Movies For Free
Since were on the topic of how to watch your local channels without an antenna or cable, its also worth discussing ways of getting movies and shows online at no cost.
Above I had mentioned an OTT media service called Crackle, which gives you ad-supported streaming. But did you know there are other services with some of the offerings of Hulu Live TV but for which theres no paid subscription?
Here are a few other options that stream channels of prime time TV and films:
Cheddar: dubbed CNBC for millennials, this service offers both unpaid and paid live streams. Cheddar offers unpaid streams only on Facebook and for antenna users however, and for a few hours a day. The paid version streams on a variety of devices and services, like Roku, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Playstation Vue, Philo, and more.
Tubi: another non-cable alternative offering an ad-supported stream of movies and TV series. A competitor of Crackle, the service has unskippable ads but offers some surprisingly good content and classics of the genre. To get these, youll have to put up with some ads but Ive heard these are rather innocuous and not too distracting.
The Roku Channel: you can also watch unpaid channels on a Roku device. The Roku Channel will stream a variety of shows like CBS news, movies, TV shows, etc. Its ad supported and though it doesnt offer original content, youll be able to watch classics without paying a hefty price.
Free Internet TV Channels You Can Watch Online
Here are the best internet TV channels to watch online, all of which are both free and legal.
We know about the various streaming services that let you watch live TV. But what about standalone TV channels? Is it possible to watch free internet TV channels from around the world?
In this article, we’ll help you find the best IPTV services on the web. Every channel on the list has a legal source, which means you’re not going to get in trouble with your ISP or the law.
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How To Stream TV
Here is what you need to do to stream TV effortlessly:
But wait There are so many streaming TV services out there. Its kind of confusing. How to choose then?!
Which Streaming Service Uses The Least Data
Though the differences arent huge, some streaming services use more than others. Disney+ said it uses approximately 2 GB of data in an hour for a Full HD stream, while Netflix says it uses approximately 3 GB an hour for a stream in similar quality.
If data caps are a concern, you should look out for services that allow you to pick the streaming quality and/or offer data saver modes. Netflix, for example, has a basic plan that only lets you stream in standard quality, which uses about 0.7 GB of data per hour.
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Local Channels On Fubo TV
FuboTV offers live local Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS in select markets. This service also includes networks known for sports like FS1, FS2, beIN Sports, NBCSN, BTN, and more. You can see whats available at FuboTV through this 1-week free trial. We cover this streaming service in-depth in our Review of FuboTV.
FuboTV is available on major platforms, including AppleTV, AndroidTV, Roku, and Amazon FireTV. The price of their Family Plan is $64.99 per month after the free trial. That includes a cloud DVR with 250 hours of storage and the ability to watch on 3 devices at once.
How To Watch Local Network Channels Without Cable
Published By Dennis Restauro
When it comes to watching TV, most TV shows people watch are on broadcast TV networks like CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC, etc. TV shows on those networks are consistently in the Nielsen ratings top 10. This article explains in detail how to watch your local broadcast networks by streaming them live online or watching them live over the air with a TV antenna.
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Can You Watch Local TV At No Cost Using A Website Or App
So can you get local channels without cable? The answer is complicated. Just note that youre probably never going to be able to watch TV entirely at no cost.
Unless you have access to free internet there are always going to be some costs involved.
But with a little research and some basic equipment, you can minimize your local television viewing costs using just your home internet connection. This may help you eliminate more than half of your current cable bill.
To begin, youll need both an internet connection and a display device such as a laptop or a smart TV with a remote. If you dont have a smart TV, its possible to connect your laptop to your set using an easily available HDMI cable.
From here, there are a number of local programming options you can try to get the right combination of solutions that work for you and your viewing habits.
Are Your Streaming Device And Apps Compatible
Setting up and trying out a streaming TV service is as easy as downloading an appbut is that app available on your set-top box or mobile devices?
Most services reviewed here are available as smart TV apps, though we think the best way to stream TV is with a streaming device like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, or Roku for better stability and performance.
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Local Channels On Hulu Live TV
Did you know Hulu streams Live TV? Hulus Live service currently streams live ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, in nearly every TV market, along with the CW in quite a few markets as well. You can check your zip code with Hulu to see which local channels are available in your area. It will also tell you which cable channels are available! You can get live FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC in most U.S. These are the same local affiliate networks you see over the air and on cable TV.
They also stream just about every channel you can find on pay TV. There is no contract so that you can cancel at any time. Hulus Live TV service is much cheaper than cable, starting at just $69.99 per month. That also includes Hulus massive on-demand streaming library.
Hulu+live TV is supported on Roku, Fire TV Devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, iOS, Android, and more. You can find more information on the service in our Hulu review, along with a listing of all your local channels on Hulu.
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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Keeping An Eye On How Much Data You Stream
Disney
If you have a data cap at home or on your phone, its important to be conscious about how much of your data youre using when you watch TV or movies. Generally, streaming and live TV services require a connection speed of approximately 10 Mbps and use up to 3 GB of data in an hour for a stream in Full HD. While its hard to keep a tight hold on how much data you use from moment to moment, that is a guide that can help you understand your internet usage.
Download Sign Up And Sign In To Streaming Apps
Smart TVs usually have all of the popular apps on the homepage. Devices such as Apple TV allow you to customize your layout so you must go into the Apple Store and download the apps you want.
Then go into the streaming apps and sign up or sign in.
Once youve done so, you can start watching Tiger King while you cook, put on Elena from Avalor for the kiddos, or watch How to Train Your Dragon with the family on Saturday night.
Streaming on your smartphone
If youre wanting to stream on your iPhone or Android smartphone, we recommend an unlimited data plan so you can stream as much as youd like without worries.
Its also the future. No one wants to be stuck on a one-hour train ride without being able to watch Star Treks Picard.
Our best unlimited data cell phone plans include Verizon , T-mobile , AT& T , and Visible Wireless .
Best unlimited plans comparison
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Watch Local TV Shows On Regular Youtube
Live streaming channels for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are available on YouTube TV, without you having to resort to cable or satellite.
You can watch these live channels on any streaming device for a subscription rate of $54.99 per month a $20 increase since its launch just two years ago.
But the free version of YouTube still offers some local channels that you can access if youre looking for the highlights of the day in your area.
If you want to watch local updates rather than complete live coverage of local events, it might be a good option for you.
The Downside of YouTube
The television content available on the free version of YouTube isnt generally streamed live, but are rather clips posted by the station on their YouTube channel.
Youre then at the mercy of a station editor who decides what to make available. Video quality can sometimes be uneven on YouTube, with little content available in HD.
Additionally, youre stuck on that platform, which continually appears to be designed to please the undiscerning entertainment tastes of middle schoolers.
Stream All Your Favorite Sports Live
To watch all the sports that you previously could with your cable subscription, you should consult our roundup of the best sports streaming services. When picking a service, verify that it carries all the channels you want to watch in your area, including regional sports networks for coverage of local MLB, NBA, and NHL teams. Most services offer the NBC Sports RSNs, but DirecTV Stream is the only one in this list that offers Bally Sports RSNs and AT& T-owned SportsNet RSNs, too. Which RSNs you need depends on your location and which sports you like to watch.
Not all services include all the major league channels either, such as NFL Network, NBA TV, or MLB Network. Ensuring that a service covers all the affiliate broadcast channels in your area from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC is also important, since many games air on those channels. Know that you are not exempt from local market restrictions or coverage blackouts.
We also have roundups of the best NBA streaming services, MLB streaming services, and NHL streaming services.
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Does Streaming Use More Data Than Downloading
Mollie Sivaram
Streaming a movie in Full HD requires about the same amount of bandwidth as downloading a movie in Full HD. However, downloading a movie stores a file on your device, so you can watch the file multiple times. If you stream the same movie twice, you will have to use twice as much data.
That said, most streaming services feature settings that automatically adjust your stream quality depending on your bandwidth. Streaming a movie in 4K may use less data than downloading it because the platform adjusts the download at various times over the course of the stream.
How Can I Watch Live News For Free
You can watch live news free if you have a high-speed internet connection. All the Big Four networks are currently offering free 24-hour news streams.
You can also watch the latest news on your local affiliate networks for free if you have an over-the-air HD antenna, which gives you access to daily and Sunday morning national news as well as daily local coverage.
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Deep TV And Movies Library: Paramount+
- Limited sports and movies
- Small lineup of originals
Beyond streaming exclusives Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery, The Good Fight, and Why Women Kill, the draw of Paramount+ is its deep library of ViacomCBS classics and, in most markets, a live TV stream of local CBS affiliates.
That means live access to CBS Sports, CBS News, and CBS shows like Survivor, NCIS, and Young Sheldon. You can also attempt to keep up with Stephen Colberts nightly political takedowns on The Late Show, though we wouldnt recommend itits exhausting.
Paramount+ also recently added over 70 TV series from the vaults of parent company ViacomCBS. This means you can find SpongeBob SquarePants hanging out with Chappelles Show and Snooki & Jwoww.
In all, Paramount+ now carries over 30,000 hours of content from Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, TV Land, VH1, and other cable networks, in addition to CBS shows. Thats a lot of classic content from a lot of different sourcesif Paramount+s new originals dont wow you, the old library might.