Roku offers thousands of apps, with on-demand movies, morning shows, live animal feeds, and much more. Don’t worry about missing out on local TV if you watch through Roku — there are several ways to access these channels on your device. You can use skinny bundle streaming services that offer the channels you’re looking for. You can pick up free over-the-air channels with an antenna and integrate them into your Roku interface. There’s also The Roku Channel and other free apps that let you watch select programming without an antenna or paid subscription. With plenty of low-cost and free options, there’s no reason to keep paying for cable to get local TV. Here’s how to watch local channels on Roku without a cable subscription.
How to Watch Local Channels on Roku
Local channels are your go-to source for breaking news, weather alerts, local government updates, and regional sports coverage. Whether you want to stay informed about your community, follow your hometown team, or keep up with public access programming, you can get everything you need through your Roku device. Roku offers three main ways to watch local channels: streaming services, over-the-air TV, and free apps. Here’s how to use each method to watch local channels on Roku.
Skinny Bundle Streaming Services
Anyone who wants a simple setup will find skinny bundle streaming services the easiest way to watch local channels on Roku. These platforms provide a mix of on-demand content and live TV, often including local channels. They’re more affordable and flexible than traditional cable, helping you save money while still enjoying your favorite stations. They don’t require any extra equipment; all you have to do is install the app and log in to the service on your device. Since these services stream over the internet, you can switch seamlessly between screens and pick up where you left off on your Roku, smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Many skinny bundles include live local feeds of major networks like ABC and CBS, but availability depends on your location and the service you choose. Roku’s search allows you to search the name of the station or program you are looking for and the results will show which streaming services offer it.
Here are the subscription streaming services that offer local channels on Roku:
Over-the-Air TV
You can watch free over-the-air TV on your Roku by connecting an HD TV antenna to your TV. This lets you pick up local stations broadcasting news, sports, and entertainment at no additional cost. To get started, plug your antenna into your TV’s antenna (RF) input. Then, go to Settings > TV input > Live TV > Set up input > Scan for Antenna or Cable Channels to see the channels your antenna is picking up. Or, you can search for a specific channel or program using the search bar. The number of channels you receive will depend on your location, antenna placement, and signal strength.
If you have a TV with Roku built in, over-the-air channels integrate seamlessly into the Roku interface. After scanning for channels, you can find them in the “Live TV” input on your home screen, alongside other streaming content. If your TV doesn’t have a built-in ATSC digital tuner, you may need an external one to access live channels.
Free Apps
Because local TV is a free public service, in most cases you can get access without paying a dime. Several free streaming services with Roku apps offer select local programming including weather and news. The Roku Channel app offers free local news, as does NewsON and Haystack News. For weather, try installing the apps for FOX Weather or Weather Nation, which offer live 24/7 feeds, on your Roku device. Local Now is great for everything local TV has to offer. Use the search bar to find these free services, then just install and start watching — no payment required.
Here are the free streaming services that offer local channels on Roku:
If you still have a cable subscription, providers like Spectrum also offer Roku apps to integrate your cable subscription with the other services on your device. Just search the name of your cable provider to see if it has a Roku app. If it does, log in with your credentials to access your full list of cable channels, including local channels.
Watch Local Channels on Every Type of Device
Our series on how to watch local channels without cable includes more than just this article:
How can you watch ABC CBS free if u have roku and philio
One of the things I did to cut costs was to drop my cable subscription down to their streaming service which only costs me about 15.00/month. I still can bundle it – but doing so cut my bill by a little more than half. I can get a ton of stations – i.e WE, Sundance, LMN, Hallmark, ID, Food Network, Hunting and fishing shows, and a host of many more channels. Alas, I still can’t access local channels but we do have a small OTA outside, although it only picks up CBS stations.