Roku is a streaming device that requires the Internet to work, and TVs with the Roku OS allow you to receive video on demand and watch live broadcasts, as they have a TV tuner.
To watch local TV channels on Roku, you have several options:
- Streaming Services (available on Roku TV and Roku devices): Subscription services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and others often include access to local TV channels. Check if local channels are available in your area for these services.
- Official Roku Channels (available on Roku TV and Roku devices): Some local TV channels may offer their official channels on the Roku platform. Look for them in the Roku channel store.
- Live streaming via Websites (available on Roku TV and Roku devices): Some local channels can broadcast live on their websites. You can use your web browser on Roku to access these broadcasts.
- TV Tuner and Antenna (available on TV only): If you have a Roku TV, you can connect an antenna or cable TV to it and watch local channels through the built-in TV tuner.
How to get local channels on Roku via antenna or cable
There are several ways to access local channels on your Roku device using an antenna or cable. These methods are especially relevant if you have a Roku TV with built-in tuners to receive over-the-air content.
For Roku TV users:
Using an antenna: Connect the HDTV antenna to the ANT/CABLE input on your Roku TV.
- Go to the Roku TV’s home screen.
- Select “Settings” and then “TV Inputs.”
- Select “Antenna TV” and then select “Configure Input.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to scan channels. The Roku TV will search for all available local channels transmitted through the antenna.
- Once the scan is complete, you can access local channels from the home screen under “Antenna TV.”
Using Cable: If you have a cable subscription, connect your cable line to the ANT/CABLE input on your Roku TV.
Follow the same steps, but select “Cable TV” instead of “Antenna TV” during setup.
How to watch Live TV on Roku using a streaming service
How to watch local channels via Streaming Services
To watch local TV channels through streaming services, you can subscribe to one of the many available services that offer streaming local channels along with national and international channels. Here are a few popular options:
- YouTube TV: This service offers a wide selection of local channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, in most regions. In addition to local channels, YouTube TV also offers access to a large number of cable channels.
- Hulu + Live TV: Hulu offers access to local channels in many regions, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX, as well as a wide range of other TV channels.
- Sling TV: While Sling TV focuses primarily on national channels, it also offers some local channels in certain packages. The availability of local channels may depend on your location.
- FuboTV: This service specializes in sports broadcasts, but also offers a wide range of local channels, including major network stations.
- DIRECTV STREAM: Formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TV Now, this service offers many local channels in different regions, including major networks.
Before subscribing, check the availability of local channels in your area on your chosen service’s website. Most services offer a trial period, allowing you to try out the service before purchasing. Also, make sure you have a suitable internet connection for comfortable viewing of streaming content.
How to get local channels through the Official Roku Channels
You can watch local channels through the official Roku channels. It is important to note that the availability of specific local channels may vary depending on your location. Local channels are interested in broadcasting their TV programs through Roku devices, so they add their TV programs to the channels for Roku.
Search the Roku Channel Store:
From your Roku device’s home screen, select “Streaming Channels” to access the Roku Channel Store.
Use the search function to find specific local channels, or enter the name of your city/region to see what local channels are available.
Once you have found the channel you want, tap “Add Channel” to install it on your Roku device.
Live streaming from local TV stations’ websites on Roku.
Many local TV stations support live streaming of their TV programs on the Internet. You can use a web browser, available on some Roku models, to view live broadcasts from local channel websites on your Roku.
To put it bluntly, there are better solutions than this: browsers on TVs are usually very simplistic, and browsing them is tedious, especially if you have to search for something.
Using a web browser:
Open your installed browser and type in the URL of the website of the local channel that offers live streaming. Some sites may not display correctly due to the limitations of web browsers on Roku.
How to watch local news, weather and sports on Roku devices
You can watch local news, weather, and sports on Roku devices and customize your viewing experience, which is no different from the above methods.
- You can add local channels
- Add national channels that broadcast local news, sports, or weather forecasts.
There are free Roku channels dedicated to local news and weather. Channels such as NewsON provide access to live and on-demand news programs from local stations across the country.
Weather channels: Channels like “The Weather Network” or “WeatherNation” offer weather forecasts and alerts.
Services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV offer packages that include local news and sports channels based on your location.
