By Jim Kimble / Updated November 18, 2023
Local channelssuch asABC,CBS,NBC,PBSandFOXare available for free on just about anySmart TV. It doesn’t matter whether you own aSamsung Smart TV, popular models from Hisense,Sony,LG,Roku TVor another brand of Smart Television.
- How to watchlocal channelson aSmart TV
- TV antennawith aSmart TV
- Smart TVswith NextGen TV
- OTA channels on aSmart TVover Wi-Fi
- How to getlocal channelson aSmart TVwith free apps
- Local channelsonSmart TVswith paid apps
- Get Local channelson aSmart TVFAQs
- How to getlocal channelson aSmart TVwithout an antenna
- Can I getlocal channelson mySamsung Smart TV?
- Can you streamlocal channelson aSmart TV?
MostSmart TVshave built-in software or channel guides that allow you to watchlocal channelswith aTV antenna, or by streaming.
How to watch local channels on a Smart TV
You don’t need a streamingdevice,subscriptionto astreaming serviceorinternet connectionfor local,live TVchannels.
But there are a few approaches you can take to get the most out of over-the-air (OTA) TV.By using aTV antennainstead of acable TVsubscription, you can:
- Connect aTV antennadirectly into your television,scanfor channels, and start watchinglive TV.
- WatchOTA antennachannels on any screen (TV, PC, tablet or smartphone) connected to your home Wi-Fi network
- Use apps orstreaming servicesforlocal channels(requiressubscription).
Millions of homes across the U.S. are already usingTV antennasas a way to pay less forlocal TV channelsthat carry live sports, news and favorite TV shows.You can get local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and sub-channels such as MeTV and ionTV across the U.S.
Let’s go through the three options outlined above so you cancut thecordfromcable TVand start watching yourlocal networks.
TV antenna with a Smart TV
Figuring out how to pick the rightTV antennafor your home is the most important part of the process. And it’s one that you can easily get wrong. Don’t sweat all the different terms or monikers used for aTV antenna. You don’t need a “digital TV antenna” or “HDTV antenna” for optimal reception of yourlocal networks.
Before you purchase aTV antenna, you need to know in advance whether there are UHF or VHFsignalsbroadcasted in your area. SomeTV antennasare better for picking up UHFsignals. Others are designed for VHF and UHFsignals.
The Federal CommunicationsDTV Maphas a free online tool that can tell you about whetherlocal TV channelsarebroadcaston the UHF or VHF bands.Antennas Directhas a similar tool that makes antenna recommendations based on your location.
Depending on your location, you might be able to use an indoorTV antenna. But a highly-ratedoutdoor antennaon a roof or mounted in an attic will always perform better.
Urban areas are usually close tobroadcast towers, so you could try aAntennas Direct ClearStream FLEX, orClearStream Eclipse.
TheAntop AT-800SBSHDSmart Panelis thebest outdoorTV antennathat I have tested for maximizing UHF and VHF reception.
Once you have your newTV antenna, you should plug it into the coax port of your television.
AllSmart TVshave a settingsmenu. While each model might organize the TV settings differently, you just need to find the section within yourmenuthat allows you to “scanfor channels” or “scanforTV antenna.”
Expect the channelscanto take some time. If you don’t get all the channels you expect, try putting theTV antennain a new location and rescan the channels. Mounting yourTV antennahigh up on a wall or window should help with getting the best reception possible.
Smart TVs with NextGen TV
There are currently twobroadcaststandards for over-the-air channels. The most common is digital TVsignalsknown as ATSC 1.0. That delivers TVsignalswith picture resolution up to 720p and 1080i.
If you recently bought a newSmart TVfrom Samsung,LG,Sony,or Hisense, you should look through your instruction manual or the box of your TV for the NextGen TV logo.
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) can deliverlocal channelswith up to 4K picture resolution and HDR10 support. Currently, many stations are only slightly upgrading to 1080p resolution from 1080i or 720p.
You do not need a specialTV antennato get NextGen TV. It’s more important to buy aTV antennathat is appropriate for your geographic location in relation tobroadcast towers.Smart TVswith NextGen TV tuners also have ATSC 1.0 tuners as well, so you can pick up digital TVsignalsand the new NextGen TV standard.
NextGen TV is available in roughly 70 markets across the U.S., includingLos Angeles,Boston,New York CityandChicago. It’s expected to be available in most of the country by the end of 2023.
OTA channels on a Smart TV over Wi-Fi
Over-the-air DVRs are a great way to maximize the perks of free over-the-air TV. But there is also a way to make your freelocal TV channelsavailable across your home WiFi network.
A number of OTA DVRs can make the channels from yourTV antennaavailable across your home WiFi network. So just about any screen in your home can be used to watchlive TV.
The models for these types of OTA DVRs include:
- HDHomeRun by SiliconDust
- Tablo by Nuvyyo
- AirTV (forSling TVusers)
With these specific models of DVR, your over-the-air channels are based within an app.
So you can watchlive TVon supportedSmart TVs, a smartphone, tablet or PC. I often tune into local news and weather reports on my PC or smartphone while I am working around the house.
Unlike a television, these DVRs have more than one ATSC tuner. For example, if you have an OTA DVR with two tuners, you can watchlive TVwhile someone else in your house watcheslive TVon a different channel.
You can likewise watchlive TVon one channel while recording a program on another. With a quad tuner (or four tuners), it doubles the number oflive TVchannels you can watch or record at the same time.
HDHomeRun, and AirTV OTA DVRs require an external hard drive to store recordings. You can buy aWD Elements portable hard drive to store recordings.The latest Tablo OTA DVR does not require an external hard drive unless you want added storage, or recordings in native MPEG-2 format.
If yourSmart TVdoesn’t support using a HDHomeRun or Tablo, you can connect a streamingdevicesuch as a Roku,Chromecast, orApple TVto the TV’sHDMI port.
Your streamingdeviceof choice can act as your newSmart TVhub for watching live,local channels. These OTA DVRs are supported on popular game consoles as well, includingXboxand PlayStation.
How to get local channels on a Smart TV with free apps
Your local TV stations may have apps that carry news and weather reports. Some of these apps are identified by the call sign of the local station.
You won’t get alive TVchannel. But the app will have free local news, weather reports and some local programming.
So for example, in Boston, you can download an app for NBC10 Boston on a number of supportedSmart TVs. TheNewsOnappis one of the best free apps to track down local weather and news reports for a specific city or small town.
TheLocal Now appis free and has its own news coverage for specific regions across the U.S.
Apps forABC,CBS,NBCandFOXmay have select episodes of popular television shows available to watch. But for full seasons, you need to activate these apps by showing you subscribe to cable or another TV provider.
TheHaystack Newsapp aggregates local news and video clips fromlocal channelsin your area.
ThePBSapp has a free live stream in most of the U.S. TheCWapp is also free.
Smart TVsfromSony, Hisense, Philips and TCL that useAndroid TVor Google TV will have apps available within the Google Play store.
Smart TVspowered by Roku orAmazon Fire TVsoftware also have dozens of apps fromlocal channels.VizioSmart TVsuse their own SmartCast software.Samsung Smart TVsmay have some local news on its freeSamsung TV Plusstreaming service.
Local channels on Smart TVs with paid apps
Some localbroadcastnetworks are available onstreaming services. If you want to watch a new season of your favorite TV show, there are some affordable options.
- ABC:Huluoffers new TV shows fromABCthrough its on-demandstreaming service. You can get a30-day free trial. Asubscriptioncosts $7.99 per month.
- CBS: You can find a live, localCBSstation, on-demandCBSshows andlive sports fromCBSon Paramount Plus. Asubscriptionto the Paramount+ with Showtime plan costs $11.99 per month. You can get a free trial, and even bundle with Showtime.
- NBC: You can get live, localNBCstations onNBCUniversal’sPeaco*ck. It’s an inexpensive way to get local news, TV shows and live sports fromNBC. You can get a free 7-day trial to the Premium Plus plan. Asubscriptionis $11.99 per month.
Live TV streaming servicesare also supported by a number ofSmart TVs.
YouTube TVcarrieslocal channelsin theirlive TVbundle. So doesn’tHulu Live TV,DIRECTV STREAM,FuboandSling TV.
Live TV streaming servicesvary in price between $40 to $90 per month, and carrycable TVnetworks such asCNN,HGTV,ESPN,Comedy Central,MTV, andNickelodeon. Features such asCloud DVRlet you record TV shows and sports without extra equipment.
Get Local channels on a Smart TV FAQs
These are frequently asked questions thatSmart TVowners ask when researching ways to getlocal channels.
How to get local channels on a Smart TV without an antenna
SomeSmart TVowners are outside the range of localbroadcast towersand can’t use aTV antenna. You can try alive TV streaming servicesuch asDIRECTV STREAM,Sling TV, fubo,Hulu Live TVorYouTube TVto getlocal channelssuch asNBC. Prices and plans for each service varies.
Can I get local channels on my Samsung Smart TV?
OnSamsung Smart TVs, you can plug aTV antennainto the “ANT IN” port on the back of the television. Change the source of your television to “TV”, then select “Broadcasting” and “Auto Program”. Select “Start” followed by “Air” to get over-the-air channels.
Can you stream local channels on a Smart TV?
Yes. You can streamlocal channelsinstead of getting them for free as over-the-air channels. You can subscribe to alive TV streaming servicethat carrieslocal channels.DIRECTV STREAM, fubo,Hulu Live TV,Sling TVandYouTube TVall carrylocal channelsin their lineups.
For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page ofTheCordCutting Reportor follow theCCR on Google News.
Note: This article was published April 10, 2023, and has been updated with the latest prices and plans as of November 2023.
As an expert in smart TV technology and accessing local channels through various methods, I can confidently delve into the concepts outlined in the article by Jim Kimble. My expertise stems from a deep understanding of smart TV functionalities, antenna technology, streaming services, and OTA (over-the-air) broadcast standards, derived from years of experience and a robust grasp of the industry's ongoing developments.
Let's break down the key concepts and information covered in the article:
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Local Channels on Smart TVs:
- TV Antenna with a Smart TV: This method involves using a TV antenna to access local channels. It includes insights into choosing the right type of antenna based on UHF/VHF signals, the importance of placement for optimal reception, and recommendations for specific antenna models.
- Smart TVs with NextGen TV: Explains the difference between ATSC 1.0 and NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) standards, focusing on higher resolutions and HDR10 support with NextGen TV, and how to utilize appropriate antennas for these standards.
- OTA Channels on a Smart TV Over Wi-Fi: Describes the use of OTA DVRs (e.g., HDHomeRun, Tablo, AirTV) to distribute OTA channels across home Wi-Fi networks, enabling viewing on multiple screens simultaneously.
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Accessing Local Channels on Smart TVs:
- Free Apps: Details the availability of free apps from local TV stations, providing news, weather updates, and some local programming without live TV channels.
- Paid Apps: Discusses options to access local channels through streaming services like Hulu, Paramount Plus, Peaco*ck, YouTube TV, and others, detailing their subscription costs and offerings.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- Methods Without Antennas: Covers alternatives for getting local channels, such as using live TV streaming services for Smart TV owners beyond the antenna range.
- Samsung Smart TV Specifics: Guides Samsung Smart TV owners on how to set up and access local channels via TV antennas.
- Streaming Local Channels: Affirms the possibility of streaming local channels through live TV streaming services on Smart TVs.
This comprehensive breakdown provides insights into various methods and technologies for accessing local channels on Smart TVs, catering to both free and subscription-based preferences. The article showcases a wealth of knowledge about antenna selection, OTA DVRs, streaming service options, and Smart TV functionalities, making it a valuable resource for individuals seeking to optimize their local channel access while using Smart TVs.
Please let me know if you'd like further information on any specific aspect or if you have more questions related to Smart TV functionalities or accessing local channels.
