How to get local news without cable
Last checked October 30, 2026.
Local TV news is broadcast for free, and most stations also put their newscasts online. Here is how to pick it up with an antenna, how to stream it without an antenna or a subscription, and how to get the rest of the town’s news that TV doesn’t cover.
The short answer
| Way | What it takes |
|---|---|
| TV antenna | An antenna and a TV with a digital tuner. Free after you buy the antenna. |
| Free news apps | A phone, a streaming device or a smart TV. Free, with ads. |
| Your station’s website or app | A browser or the station’s app. Free, with ads. |
| A daily local email | An email address. Free from MailerDot. |
Paid live TV services also carry local channels in many markets, but they cost about as much as cable, so they are left out here.
With an antenna
Your local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and PBS stations broadcast over the air, and an antenna picks them up live, newscasts included, with no subscription. Whether it works depends on where you live, so check before you buy.
- Enter your street address in the FCC’s DTV Reception Map. It lists the stations that reach you, color coded as strong, moderate, weak or no signal, strongest first.
- Click each station you want to see where its transmitter is. If they are all in one direction, a directional antenna is enough. If they are spread around you, look at an omnidirectional antenna.
- If the weakest station you want shows as weak, plan on an outdoor or attic antenna, and possibly an amplifier.
- Most people will want an antenna that receives both UHF and VHF, the FCC notes. The map shows each station’s RF channel, which tells you which bands you need.
- After you connect it, run the channel scan in your TV’s settings. Run it again if you move the antenna.
Without an antenna
If an antenna won’t work where you live, you can stream the same newscasts. NewsON is a free app with live local newscasts, earlier newscasts and clips from more than 285 stations across the U.S., according to its own site (read October 30, 2026). Other free, ad-supported streaming apps also carry local news channels, so check which ones include your market.
- Most local TV stations stream their newscasts live on their own website and app, and post the stories as articles.
- Your PBS and public radio stations stream for free as well, and cover state and local government.
- Streaming takes a steady internet connection, and some stations stream only some of their newscasts.
What TV news doesn’t cover
A TV station covers a whole region, often dozens of towns, so most nights your town isn’t in the newscast. The things that change your week, like a council vote, a road closure, a school board meeting or a new restaurant, usually come from the town itself or a local paper.
- Your city’s website posts meeting agendas, alerts and closures. Many cities have an email or text sign-up for them.
- A local paper or news site, if your town has one. Many have a free email.
- MailerDot sends one free email every morning for any U.S. town, with the day’s news, events and council items from the town’s own sources.
Questions people ask
Can I get local channels for free? Yes, with an antenna, if you are within range of the stations. The FCC’s reception map tells you which ones reach your address.
Can I watch local news without cable or an antenna? Yes. Free apps like NewsON and your station’s own website or app stream newscasts live.
Why is my town never on the news? A TV station covers a whole region. For news about your town, look to your city’s website, a local paper, or a daily email for your town.
Find your town’s free daily email →