Picking a live TV streaming service after you decide to move on from cable can involve a lot of decisions. Viewers have to prioritize the content that means that most to them when searching for a new TV provider, and most customers prize the ability to watch local broadcast channels quite highly.

Local channels like ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, NBC, and PBS provide key local news coverage, primetime programming, live sports, and more, and being able to watch them reliably is a must for a large portion of the audience. YouTube TV is one of the most popular live TV streaming services out there, but does it carry local broadcast channels? Find out everything you need to know here.

What you need to know about watching local channels on YouTube TV

Does YouTube TV offer local channels?

Yes! YouTube TV offers access to local broadcast channels ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, NBC, and PBS. These channels are found in various YouTube TV channel packages, including several of the streamer’s Genre Plans, which allow viewers to pay a lower monthly price for plans with fewer channels that are built around a central theme.

Which YouTube TV plans come with local channels?

YouTube TV’s core channel plan, which offers various genres of cable channels, includes all the above-mentioned broadcast channels. It’s priced at $83 per month and includes 100+ channels overall.

Viewers will also find local broadcast channels in multiple Genre Plans offered by YouTube TV. These range in price from $63 to $72 per month and offer anywhere between 30+ and 80+ channels, depending on which you seek out. Learn more about which YouTube TV Genre Plans carry broadcast channels in the table below; all of these packages carry ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, NBC, and PBS.

Are local channels available in all markets with YouTube TV?

YouTube TV carries ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in over 98% of television households in the United States. The availability of The CW and PBS is a little more hit-or-miss with YouTube TV, but you can always check to see if these channels are included with the streamer in your market before you sign up. If you can get The CW and PBS with your YouTube TV core subscription, you will also get the channels in all YouTube TV Genre Plans that include local channels.

Is there an extra fee for watching local channels with YouTube TV?

Old-school cable and satellite customers may well remember seeing an extra charge on their bill for local channel access. Fortunately, local channel fees are mostly a thing of the past for live TV streamers, and YouTube TV does not charge an extra fee to receive local channels.

What’s the cheapest way to watch local channels with YouTube TV?

YouTube TV’s cheapest plan with local channels included is its Entertainment Genre Plan. It costs $55 per month for 50+ channels, including Bravo, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, MTV, TLC, and more. Viewers won’t find any sports or cable news networks in the package, but it does offer a great selection of popular cable entertainment networks, plus broadcast channel access for less than $60 per month.

Does YouTube TV have a free trial?

Yes, YouTube TV offers all new customers a free trial. The trial can last as few as two days, or as many as 21, depending on what time of month it is, special promotions from YouTube TV, and other factors outside the customer’s control. Fortunately, YouTube TV will inform you of how long a trial you get before you sign up.

What alternatives to YouTube TV offer local channel access?

There are several other live TV streaming services that allow viewers to watch local broadcast channels if YouTube TV doesn’t seem quite right.

DIRECTV carries local channels in all Signature channel packages, starting with its $90-per-month ENTERTAINMENT plan. The streamer also includes ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in its MySports Genre Pack, which is $65 per month for 20+ channels, and the MyNews Genre Pack, which checks in at $45 per month for 10+ channels. Viewers can combine the channels of the two plans for $80 per month.

Fubo doesn’t offer PBS access in any markets, but does carry ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC in its Pro and Elite plans. These cost $89 and $99 per month, respectively, before taxes and fees. ABC, CBS, and Fox are also available in the Fubo Sports genre-based plan, which has 20+ channels for $65 per month.

Hulu + Live TV includes local channels in its core package, which costs $90 per month if customers wish to watch programming from Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited with their channel package.

Sling TV only offers ABC, Fox, and NBC (no CBS, The CW, or PBS) in a relatively small number of markets. In these areas, viewers can purchase local channel access through the Sling Blue plan for $46 per month, the Sling Select plan at $20 per month, or Sling Orange and Blue for $61. Sling charges a $5 to $10 monthly surcharge for receiving local channels.

Can you watch local channels with an antenna?

You absolutely can. If you’re mainly looking into a live TV streaming subscription for local channel access, you should know that you can purchase an over-the-air antenna to watch your local networks instead. For a one-time purchase price, antennas let you pick up your area’s local channels with no subscription fee, unlocking all the programming found thereon.

Shop antennas from major retailers using the links below:

• Shop antennas from Amazon.
• Shop antennas from Best Buy.
• Shop antennas from Target.
• Shop antennas from Walmart.

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YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.

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Sports are a major focus for YouTube TV, with access to national and regional coverage, league networks, and marquee events. The service also serves as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, available as an add-on, giving fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. YouTube TV also offers a smaller sports plan, allowing subscribers access to 30+ sports-oriented channels, including local networks in select markets.

YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing subscribers to record as many shows as they want and keep recordings for up to nine months. The service is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, and web browsers. New subscribers can typically start with a free trial, though the trial length may vary by promotion.

With its broad channel lineup, strong sports offerings, unlimited DVR, and wide device support, YouTube TV remains one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services for viewers who want a traditional TV experience without a cable contract.

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New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.