For those who can’t give up on programming from major broadcast networks, it can be a challenge to cut the cord. Even if you’re tired of the binding contracts and the expensive subscription costs of cable, you don’t want to miss the live news and sports broadcasts from local affiliates.
Under the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) rules, major TV networks, like ABC and CBS, don’t have permission to own local stations in most markets. Instead, they have to work with affiliate stations in different markets to broadcast their content through local channels. This makes it challenging to get local networks with an online streaming service as it involves striking up a new agreement with affiliate broadcasters.
The good news is that with the right live TV streaming service, you can now get local channels from major networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC even without a cable subscription. Several services now offer local network coverage in major television markets, so you can get a streaming bundle that acts as a cable alternative.
In this post, we give you a detailed look at some of the best streaming services to get local channels.
Streaming plans and local channels compared
| DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| Free trial length | 5 Days | Varies | 3 Days | N/A | Varies |
| ABC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| FOX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Telemundo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| The CW | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Univision | ✓ | ✓ |
Top streaming services for cable channels
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM has one of the most comprehensive lineups of local channels among all streaming services. The most basic package gives you access to local affiliates from leading cable networks across major television markets. This includes all four of the major television networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.
Keep in mind that although DIRECTV STREAM offers local channels in most markets, that doesn’t mean you’ll get them in your city. Be sure to run a search using your zip code to find out which local channels are available in your region. It also carries smaller local networks like Telemundo, The CW, and Univision in select markets.
With an expansive local channel lineup, it does offer a free trial. That means you get to try out the service before you commit to it.
Fubo
Fubo is another streaming option with a robust selection of local channels from major and smaller networks alike. The service carries local affiliates for ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC across most television markets. So aside from a few smaller cities, you should be able to get most local stations with this option.
And you get access to these local networks with the basic plan. That means you won’t need to spend anything extra to watch live TV from your local station.
In addition, you also get Telemundo, The CW, and Univision in select markets. The coverage area for these networks is slightly more limited. But it’s still better than not getting these options at all. On top of this, you also get the Spanish-language network, UniMás in a handful of markets.
Fubo offers various free trials so you can try before you commit to a subscription.
Hulu + Live TV
You can also get a solid selection of local stations with Hulu + Live TV. The service has over 90 live channels. This gives you access to local affiliates for all the major cable networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. But keep in mind that there are regional restrictions, and you won’t get these local channels across every market.
In addition, you also get local affiliates for Telemundo and The CW in select markets, although the coverage area is slightly more limited. One network that’s missing from the Hulu + Live TV local channel lineup is Univision.
But if you don’t really need the Univision programming, you could still sign Hulu + Live TV for free for 3 days. This gives you ample time to check out whether you like the service’s local channel offering and if it’s enough to cut the cord.
Sling TV
Sling TV offers the cheapest way to access programming from local stations. However, the service’s local channel offering is slightly more limited compared to other options. It doesn’t offer ABC, CBS, Telemundo, The CW, or Univision. But you can get ABC, FOX and NBC in select markets.
And you can’t get these local networks with every Sling plan, either. The $30/mo. Sling Orange plan, for instance, doesn’t offer any local channels. But you can get both FOX and NBC with Sling Blue, which also costs $30/mo.
If you like the Sling TV option but don’t want to miss out on CBS programming, you can even supplement your subscription with Paramount+. This is a standalone subscription that lets you watch live and on-demand CBS programming. With the Paramount+ Essential, along with Sling TV, you’ll still end up paying less than other streaming services.
Sling TV doesn’t usually offer free trials but is known to have various promotions and savings for the first month.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is another comprehensive streaming option. This gives you access to local affiliates for all the major cable networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. But keep in mind that regional restrictions still apply, so you may not get these local channels in every television market.
Besides these 4 networks, you also get local affiliates for Telemundo and The CW in a handful of markets. But the coverage area is slightly more limited compared to that of the major networks. And the YouTube TV lineup lacks Univision, which may not be a complete dealbreaker to some.
If YouTube TV sounds like a good option to you, sign up to try it for free for 7 days, sometimes longer, and see if you like the local channel offering.
The Final Cut
Finding the right streaming service for local channels will determine on your viewing preferences. . DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV will give you access to the big four (ABC, FOX, CBS, and NBC) and The CW in many major markets. Sling TV only offers ABC, FOX, and NBC in select markets. However, if you just need to stream your local NBC and CBS respectively, you can find those on Peacock and Paramount+.