Watch Local TV Online for Free - All Legal Streaming Options

To keep tabs on news, weather, and sports from your neighborhood, local TV stations are a crucial resource. Thankfully, there are legal ways to watch these channels for free. We’ll walk you through all the options.

Watch Local CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX on a Free Trial of a Live TV Streaming Service

In 2024, five live TV streaming services carry local channels: DIRECTV STREAM, DIRECTV Via Internet, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. You can start watching with a free trial of almost all of them.

There is no contract required - you can cancel anytime. You can access these services on a smart TV, a streaming device like a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick, or your phone, tablet, or computer. As long as you have an internet connection, you can watch TV.

For first-time cord-cutters or people looking for a new provider, I recommend DIRECTV STREAM.

Local Channel Streaming Options at a Glance

Local TV Live Streaming Options

I’ve tested all the live TV streamers and my recommendation is that you start with a 5-day free trial of DIRECTV STREAM. The service includes an unlimited DVR, 20 simultaneous streams, and a huge channel lineup.

You’ll get all your local channels and 31 of the top 35 cable channels. If you max out your options, you can get as many as 283 channels.

I like DIRECTV STREAM for its great picture and an unbeatable lineup of regional sports networks. Once you give it a try, you’ll probably be happy to make it your live TV provider.

Another top option is Hulu Live TV. You can try it free for 3 days. In addition to local stations and 33 of the top 35 cable channels, you’ll also get the great on-demand libraries of Hulu, Disney+, and the live sports of ESPN+. That’s a fantastic value for 3 free days.

Thanks to those free services, this is the best overall entertainment value available right now.

If you want to save money over the long haul, I recommend Sling TV. This ultra-flexible live streamer offers lots of different channel packages, but you can get locals on the Sling Blue package or the Orange+Blue combo. While there is no free trial, Sling frequently offers deep discounts on your first month. No other live streaming service offers more ways to save money.

One important note: Sling does not offer CBS. Your ability to watch ABC, NBC, or FOX depends on where you live.

Another strong choice is Fubo. Subscribers get local channels,19 of the top 35 cable channels, and immediate access to the hard-to-find Bally Sports networks. I generally don’t recommend Fubo because of its high price, but it does offer some channels that are hard to find.

Paramount+ with Showtime

If you subscribe to Paramount+ with Showtime, you get a huge library of blockbuster movies and most of the biggest hits from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel.

You also get access to your live, local CBS station, making it a perfect choice if you have Sling TV. Get started with a free trial.

Peacock

Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial, but if you pay for their ad-free ($13.99) plan, you get access to your live, local NBC affiliate. You’ll also get a strong library of Hollywood films and older TV shows.

Using an Antenna for Local Channels

Every cord-cutter should have an antenna. It’s inexpensive and it gives you live, local HD channels forever. Consider these great choices:

You could plug the antenna right into the back of your TV, but that leaves you with an ugly cable to deal with. My recommendation is to use a HDHomerun device - connect the antenna to the box, then connect the box to a modem/router with an ethernet cable and then you can send the antenna signal to any smart TV, phone, tablet, or computer in your home.

Consider Free Options for News Streaming

Many free streaming services offer versions fo your local newscasts, though they may not be complete — sports footage may be embargoed from streaming editions, for example. Still, if you want to watch your local station, there’s a good chance you can find news segments on free streamers like Haystack News, Local Now, NewsON, Very Local, and Zeam.