You’re staring at a $200 cable bill. It’s disgusting. Most of that money goes toward 150 channels you never touch, but you’re terrified to cut the cord because of one thing: local news and sports. You need your ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. You want to know if a storm is coming or if the local NFL team is going to blow another lead. Honestly, the cable companies know this. They bank on your fear of missing out on "live" TV to keep those monthly checks rolling in.
But here’s the reality. You can get those channels for free. Or nearly free.
The dirty secret of the digital age is that the high-definition signal floating through the air right now is actually better than what comes through your cable box. Cable companies compress their signals to squeeze more data through the wires. Over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts? They’re pure. They’re uncompressed. They look crisp. If you want to learn how to watch local channels without cable, you have to stop thinking about "streaming apps" for a second and look at the hardware sitting in your window.
The Antenna Comeback is Real
Most people think of rabbit ears from the 1970s. They remember static and hitting the side of the TV. That's dead. Since the digital transition years ago, you either get a perfect picture or nothing at all.
You need a digital antenna. It's a one-time purchase. Spend $30, and you’re done with that bill forever. But don't just buy the first one you see on Amazon with "900-mile range" written on the box. Those are lies. Physics doesn’t work like that. Because of the curvature of the earth, most indoor antennas can only grab signals from about 35 to 50 miles away. If a brand claims 500 miles, they are scamming you. Period.
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I’ve spent hours testing these. The Mohu Leaf is a classic because it’s thin, but if you live in a rural area, you’re going to need something mounted in your attic or on your roof. Brands like Winegard or ClearStream are the gold standard here. You hook the coaxial cable into the "Antenna In" port on your TV, run a "Channel Scan" in the settings, and wait. It’s like magic. Suddenly, you have 40 channels. Sure, 20 of them might be shopping networks or old Westerns, but the "Big Four" networks will be there in stunning 1080i or 720p.
What if the signal sucks?
Location is everything. If you’re in a valley or surrounded by concrete skyscrapers, an indoor antenna might struggle. This is where people give up, but you shouldn't. Try moving the antenna to a window facing the broadcast towers. You can find where those towers are by using RabbitEars.info or the FCC’s DTV Reception Maps. These tools are free and show you exactly which direction the signal is coming from. It’s nerdy, but it works.
Sometimes, a simple "amplifier" helps. Most antennas come with a small USB-powered booster. If you’re close to the towers, don’t use it—it can actually "overdrive" the tuner and cause the picture to drop out. If you’re far away, it’s a lifesaver.
The Streaming Route (The "Easy" Way)
Maybe you hate antennas. Maybe your HOA is annoying about roof mounts. Fine. You can stream your local channels, but it’s going to cost you monthly. This is where the term "Skinny Bundle" comes in.
YouTube TV is currently the king of this space. It’s pricey—usually around $73 a month—but it carries almost every local affiliate in the United States. You login, and your local news is just there. Hulu + Live TV is the main competitor, and it’s a solid choice if you already pay for Disney+ and ESPN+, since they’re usually bundled together.
But wait. There’s a cheaper way.
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- Paramount+ gives you a live feed of your local CBS station if you subscribe to their "Premium" or "Essential + Showtime" tier.
- Peacock does the same thing for your local NBC station on their Premium Plus plan.
- Sling TV is the wild card. They are cheaper (around $40), but they usually don't carry many locals. They expect you to use an antenna. In some major cities, they offer ABC, FOX, and NBC, but CBS is almost always missing.
The Locast vacuum
Remember Locast? It was a non-profit that streamed local channels for a $5 "donation." It was amazing. Then the big networks sued them into oblivion. That’s why we can't have nice things. Since Locast died, there hasn't been a truly "free" way to stream locals nationwide without an antenna, with one minor exception: PBS. The PBS app is genuinely great and usually lets you stream your local station for free just by giving them your zip code.
The Hybrid Setup: The Best of Both Worlds
If you want the ultimate "pro" move for how to watch local channels without cable, you look into a network tuner. This is the sweet spot.
You buy a device like an HDHomeRun or a Tablo. You plug your antenna into that box instead of your TV. Then, you plug that box into your Wi-Fi router.
Now, the antenna signal is on your home network. You can watch "live" local TV on your iPad in bed, on your Roku in the living room, or on your phone in the kitchen. No more running long coaxial cables through the walls. Some of these devices even let you record shows. It’s a DIY DVR. You can skip commercials on the local news or record the Super Bowl while you’re at work.
The Tablo 4th Gen is particularly interesting because it doesn’t require a subscription for the guide data. Most of these companies try to charge you $5 a month just to see what’s on TV tomorrow. Tablo baked that into the hardware cost. It’s a smart play.
Understanding the NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) Factor
Right now, television broadcasting is changing. It's called ATSC 3.0, or "Nextgen TV."
It allows for 4K broadcasting over the air. It handles signals better so they don't drop out as easily. It’s being rolled out across the US as we speak. If you’re buying a new TV today (like a high-end Sony or Samsung), it probably already has a Nextgen tuner built-in. If your TV is a few years old, you'll eventually need a small converter box to see these new signals.
Don't panic. The "old" signals (ATSC 1.0) aren't going away for at least a few more years. But if you’re wondering why your neighbor’s local sports look better than yours, they might be tapping into a Nextgen feed. It's the future of how to watch local channels without cable, and it's actually pretty exciting for people who care about picture quality.
Is it Really Free?
Let's be honest. Nothing is totally free.
- Antenna: $20–$100 (One-time cost).
- Streaming Service: $10–$75 (Monthly cost).
- Internet: You need this regardless.
If you go the antenna route, you break even in about two months compared to a cable bill. If you go the YouTube TV route, you aren't saving that much money unless you were paying for a massive cable package. The real win with streaming is the lack of contracts. You can cancel in January and come back in September for football season. Cable companies hate that flexibility.
Getting Started: Your 3-Step Plan
Stop overthinking it. You don't need a degree in electrical engineering to fire the cable company.
First, go to a reception mapping site. Check if you even have signals near you. If you see "Green" or "Good" marks for ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, go buy a flat indoor antenna. Stick it on the wall.
Second, if the antenna fails or you live in a basement, look at the "Big Two" streamers. Check the channel lineups for YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV for your specific zip code. Don't assume they have everything. Some local stations have disputes and go dark for months.
Third, if you only care about one specific network, just get the individual app. If you only watch 60 Minutes and NFL on CBS, Paramount+ is $12. Why pay for a whole cable package?
Actionable Next Steps:
- Visit RabbitEars.info and run a search for your address to see which towers are closest to you.
- Buy a basic window antenna from a place with a good return policy. Test it during a storm to see if the signal holds up.
- Download the PBS app and NewsON (which carries local news broadcasts for free) to see if that satisfies your "local" itch without spending a dime.
- If the antenna works but you hate the interface, look into an HDHomeRun to integrate those channels into your existing streaming devices.