Local channels are a great outlet for staying up to date on your local news, sports, and entertainment. The best streaming services for local channels are:
- DirecTV Stream: ABC (currently in carriage dispute), NBC, PBS, FOX, Telemundo, and CBS
- Sling TV: ABC, NBC, and FOX in select markets
- Hulu with Live TV: ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC
- Fubo TV: ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC (+ The CW, Telemundu, Univision, and UniMas in some areas)
- Youtube TV: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Telemundo, Univision, and UniMás
- Paramount+ Premium: CBS
- Xfinity Choice: ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, Univision, UniMás and Telemundo
- Vidgo: ABC and FOX
- Spectrum TV Choice: ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, and more depending on your area
DirecTV Stream: ABC (in dispute), NBC, PBS, FOX, Telemundo, and CBS
DirecTV's base subscription comes with a lot of channels such as such as AMC, Bravo, CNBC, ESPN, Lifetime, TBS, TLC, and TNT just to name a few. They also offer of the most extensive local channels lineups. Their second lowest tier, Choice, even includes Regional Sports Networks.
If budget is not an issue, DirecTV is the most complete solution to get local channels. It is also the one that is most like cable, without really being cable: image and audio quality are often said to be the best out of any streamer.
Since early September 2024, DirecTV Stream and Disney, owner of many ABC local channels, have been engaged in a carriage dispute. Because of this, some ABC local channels have gone dark on DirecTV and DirecTV Stream.
Price: $74.99/month
Free Trial: 5 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung TV
Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, AMC, Animal Planet, AXS TV, Baby First TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg Television, Boomerang, Bravo, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, Cartoon Network, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disney Channel, Disney Jr, Disney XD, E! Entertainment, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, FX, FXX, Galavision, Gem Shopping Network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, History, HLN, Home Shopping Network, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, One America News, Ovation, Paramount Network, QVC, QVC2, ReelzChannel, REVOLT, RFD-TV, RSNs, SundanceTV, SYFY, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, TLC, TNT, truTV, TV Land, Univision East, USA Network, VH1, Vice, WE tvSling TV: ABC, NBC, and FOX in select markets
Sling TV has two packages that each cost $40/month and which you can combine for $55. These packages will give you access to popular channels like ESPN, A&E, Lifetime, and so on.
Depending on where you are based, you can also get NBC and FOX affiliate local networks with the Sling Blue package. You can check here, but it's generally major markets such as Seattle, L.A., and Houston for Fox; New York, L.A., Chicago, and San Francisco for ABC; and New York, Boston, and Chicago for NBC.
Sling prides itself on not including CBS, ABC and NBC, saying that it could cost its subscribers "hundreds of dollars" more in subscription fees. This is why subscribers who choose to add ABC face a $5 surcharge.
Price: $55/month
Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Vizio Smart TV, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One
Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg Television, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MotorTrend, MSNBC, National Geographic, NFL Network, Nick Jr., QVC, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA, ViceHulu with Live TV: ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC
Hulu's live TV offering carries the four major local networks. You'll get access to other channels like HGTV, ESPN, and Fox News with your subscription as well.
Price: $75.99/month
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung TV, Vizio Smart TV, Xbox
Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ABC Localish, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BET, Big Ten Network, Bloomberg Television, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS News, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar News, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Cozi TV, CW, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN College Extra, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, Freeform, FS1, FS2, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, Golf Channel, Hallmark, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, History, HLN, ID, Justice Central TV, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, Localish, Military History Chanel, Motor Trend, MSNBC, MTV, NASA, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBC, NBC News Now, NBCLX, News Nation, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, QVC, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, SYFY, TBS, Telemundo, The Grio, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, TVLand, Universal Kids, USA, VH1, Vice, Weather ChannelFubo TV: ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC (+ The CW, Telemundu, Univision, and UniMas in some areas)
With a base package that includes a whooping 100+ channels, it only makes sense that cord-cutting service Fubo will carry all four major local networks. Depending on where you are based, you will get access to a set of local channels in your area.
Price: $74.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku
Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, AccuWeather, Animal Planet, Bein Sports, Bein Sports 4, Bein sports 5, Bein Sports 6, Bein Sports 7, Bein Sports 8, Big Ten Network, Bravo, CBS, CBS Sports Network, CBSN, Cheddar, CMT, CNBC, Comedy Central, Comet, Cozi TV, CW, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Estrella TV, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Freeform, fubo Sports Network, FX, FXX, FYI, Galavision, GetTV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, History, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Local Now, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, National Geographic, NBC, NBCLX, NBCSN, Newsmax, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Olympic Channel, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, RSNs, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SYFY, Tastemade, Telemundo, The Weather Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, TUDN, TUDNxtra1, TUDNxtra10, TUDNxtra11, TUDNxtra2, TUDNxtra3, TUDNxtra4, TUDNxtra5, TUDNxtra6, TUDNxtra7, TUDNxtra8, TUDNxtra9, TV Land, TVG, Unimas, Universal Kids, Universo, Univision, USA, VH1, Vice, WE tv, WGN AmericaYoutube TV: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Telemundo, Univision, and UniMás
A subscription to Youtube TV will get you most local channels available in area, and even throws in a valuable feature: account sharing. You can share your membership with up to 5 other people, and they will each have their own profile. .
Price: $72.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Sharp, Vizio, Xbox
Channel lineup: ABC, ABC News, ACCN, Adult Swim, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BBC World News, BET, BET Her, Big Ten Network, Bounce, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar, Cheddar News, CMT, CNBC, CNBC World, CNN, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, Dabl, Discovery, Disney, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Docurama, Dove Channel, E!, ESPN, ESPN U, ESPN2, ESPNews, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News, FOX SOUL, Fox Weather, Freeform, FS 1, FS 2, FX, FXM, FXX, Galavision, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, HLN, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, ION, Justice Central TV, LAFC Channel, Law & Crime, Live Now, Local Now, Localish, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, My TV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBA TV, NBC, NBC News Now, NBC Universo, NBCLX, NBCSN, NECN, News Nation, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Orlando City Channel, OWN, Oxygen, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount, PBS, PBS Kids, PC Mag, Pop, QVC, Recipe.TV, Scripps News, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SNY, Start TV, Sundance TV, SYFY, Tastemade, TBS, Teen Nick, TeleHit, The CW, The Great Courses, The Weather Channel, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, Tru TV, Turner Classic Movies, TV Land, TYT, Unimas, Universal Kids, Univision, USA, VH1, WE tv, YouTube OriginalsParamount+ Premium: CBS
You might have heard of Paramount+ for their live sports coverage or their big on-demand library, with originals like the great political thriller The Good Fight. The service that used to be called CBSAllAccess also carries their local networks. On top of these local channels, you will get CBS Sports HQ, CBSN, and ET Live.
Price: $11.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation 4, Portal TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Vizio, Xbox, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Xfinity Flex
Channel lineup: CBS local channels, CBS Sports HQ, CBSN, ET LiveXfinity Choice: ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, Univision, UniMás and Telemundo
Take streaming and live TV up a notch with FuboTV Elite. This upgraded subscription plan from FuboTV is $84.99 per month which lets you access more than 170 broadcast channels in the main Fubo service, 130 sporting events, and an additional 41 Fubo extra channels. Enjoy 1,000 hours of cloud DVR and watch shows for up to 10 screens at home and 3 devices on the go. With News Plus, NBA TV, and NHL TV among the additional channels, FuboTV Elite is perfect for news junkies and sports enthusiasts alike.
Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.
Vidgo: ABC and FOX
Vidgo is a small player in the cord-cutting world, but it still offers a good selection of channels. You can get your local ABC and FOX channels through Vidgo. Visit their website to know which ones you are eligible for.
Price: $55/month
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku
Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ACC Network, American Heroes, Animal Planet, Aspire, AWE, Bein Sports, BET, Big Ten Network, Cheddar, CMT, Comedy Central, Cooking Channel, CuriosityStream, Destination America, Discovery, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, DIY Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox Deportes, Fox News, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, FS1, FS2, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, GetTV, GSN, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, History, INSP, Investigation Discovery, Law & Crime, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, Longhorn Network, MAV TV, MotorTrend, MTV, MTV Classic, MTV2, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NewsNation, NFL Network, NFL Redzone, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, OAN, OWN, Pac-12 national feed, Pac-12 regionals, Paramount Network, QVC, Science, SEC Network, Sony Movie Channel, TeenNick, TLC, Travel Channel, TV Land, UPtvSpectrum TV Choice: local channels depending on your area
Spectrum TV will not say which channels will come with your package, but if you're one of the lucky ones that live in an area where all their local channels are available, you can get up to 40 local channels.
The only way to find out is by calling their hotline.
Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.