How Can I Get Local Channels on A Smart TV [2024 Guide]

Are you tired of spending tons of money on monthly subscription streaming services?  Then here’s the good news: You can get a wide range of local channels on your Smart TV. With over-the-air TV, you can access your favorite live shows, events, and sports absolutely free. A Smart TV has several OTA screen resolution features, making it a must-try for every user. But how can you get local channels on a Smart TV? Is there any way to do that? To get local channels, you’ll need a high-definition TV antenna. It is only a one-time cost, and you don’t even need an internet connection. Alternatively, you can download some free apps from the app store. 

So, let’s dive deeper and learn more about it. 

How To Get Local Channels On A Smart TV With An OTA Antenna

You should know the basics of using OTA TV to get local channels on your Smart TV. You need an antenna to access the OTA TV. Here’s how to do it. 

• Take the antenna out of the box. 
• Connect cable with the TV. 
• Now run a channel scan. 
• After that, adjust the antenna for proper reception, and you can get started. 

But sometimes, you might need to do more finagling. That’s how you can ensure the Antenna is at the right location, which improves performance to a greater extent. But how many times should you do a rescan? It’s best to run a rescan every three to four months. That’s how you can get most channels for absolutely free. 

Read: CW on Roku

Live TV Streaming Services

Another method to watch local channels on Smart TV without an antenna is by subscribing to live TV streaming services. These include Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV. These services offer a great solution for cutting the cord and getting local channels. You can also access popular channels like HGTV and ESPN. It’s a great way to replace most cable experiences without spending a lot of money. 

Sling TV

It is among the least expensive options for live-streaming services. The blue package offers FOX and NBC local channels along with 40 popular channels like FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, and Food Network. However, other channels, such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, offer local channels with several popular channels. 

YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers over 100 channels besides local channels such as ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, and PBS. But does that only provide local channels? No. You can also access the Disney Channel, Food Network, and NFL Network. 

Hulu + Live TV

With Hulu + Live TV, you can get local channels such as ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, and NBC. The lineup has over 85 channels. Moreover, this service allows you to enjoy Disney+ and ESPN+ channels. Users choose these options because they are simple and easy to access. With live TV, you can get the full cable effect without the need to pay for separate packages. 

Major Network Apps

Generally, network apps provide their own apps for streaming local channels without an antenna. You can access these apps on various devices, including your Smart TV. Here are some of the top options you should know about. 

ABC

ABC app provides live streaming and on-demand content for shows, sports, and news channels. You need to sign in to access advanced content. But ensure to sign in along with a participating pay-TV provider. That’s how you can unlock advanced content on the ABC channel. 

CBS

CBS All Access is a major network app. It provides a wide variety of local channels and on-demand content. But what are the perks of getting a subscription? Subscribing allows you to enjoy ad-free content. This app is available on most Smart TVs, including Roku, Chromecast, and Apple TV. 

FOX

The FOX NOW app allows you to access your local FOX station’s live and on-demand shows. You must sign in to the channel to access this app. But how can you do it? By inserting the credentials provided to you by your cable or streaming service providers. 

NBC

NBC offers live streaming and on-demand content according to your local NBC station. But how can you unlock all the content? You should sign in with your cable or streaming service provider for this. This app is available on Smart TVs and other streaming devices. 

CW

This app is absolutely free, and the best part is that you don’t even need a cable subscription or pay-TV provider. With CW, you can stream on-demand shows in the app. However, live streaming is not exclusively available. 

Over-the-air television Services & Roku, Fire, etc.

If you don’t have an antenna, there’s another way to access local channels. You can get over-the-air television services using devices like Roku Stick, Fire TV Stick, and Chromecast. These devices offer streaming services that provide local channels and major network apps. You can also use streaming services to access local channels. However, remember that the availability of these channels may vary greatly depending on your geographical location. Research and analyze the services offered in your area. If you’re not sure about the services, opt for a free trial. This allows you to test the subscription without the need to pay for the subscription plan. 

Many on-demand streaming services provide access to user-specific content, such as sports and local news. Let’s understand this with an example. CBS All Access, now known as Paramount+, provides on-demand and live access to CBS shows. Meanwhile, Locast is a non-profit streaming platform that offers local channels in certain markets without the need to pay a hefty sum of money. They generally rely on donations by users for operations and development. 

FAQ’s

Q: Can I get Local Channels on my smart TV?

A: Yes, you can easily access local channels on your smart TV. Like as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV.

Q: Can I watch free local channels on smart TV?

A: Yes, you can watch your favorite local channels free on smart TV. Hisense, Vizio, Samsung any brand of TV you can watch for free.

Q: Does smart TVs have Local Channels?

A: Yes, every smart tv has local channels like Fubotv Hulu, Peacock, Frndly, etc.

Conclusion

Now you know how to access local channels on your Smart TV. Just follow the method mentioned above. If you still have any queries or are facing difficulty accessing local channels, reach out to us today. Comment below or email us. Often, users don’t know about the advanced features of Smart TVs, which is why they cannot enhance the streaming experience. But not anymore. We have compiled detailed guides that can help you improve your movie-watching experience. To access this guide, click here now.