Summary
- Cutting cable saves money and provides flexibility.
- Missing local news channels is a downside.
- Use a digital antenna or free streamers for local news.
With the amount of money that cable has cost over the years, it’s no wonder why some people have decided to move away from it. A lot of the best shows on TV are on streaming platforms anyway, so why pay for something you don’t watch much? There are a lot of benefits to cutting the cord on cable, like not being locked into a multi-year contract, having the flexibility to download shows through streaming services, and more.
But one thing that might be a downside is not having access to some channels you may have previously watched a lot. This includes some of the smaller, unique channels that are included in a cable subscription. It also includes some of your local channels that can give you important information about what’s going on near you. It’s vital to stay up with what’s happening in case of weather emergencies, local politics updates, and more.
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Don’t worry though, because there are ways to keep informed even if you don’t have cable. While you can probably just jump onto your town’s Facebook page to find out what’s happening, you might want a better idea of the issues facing your area at large. Here are some ways to still use your TV to do so.
1
Download your favorite local station’s app
Many of them have their own
You’ll need a smart TV to be able to download the apps and use them. If you don’t have one, a lot of local stations stream their news on their website.
As long as you’re using a smart TV, you’ll have access to many local news channels for free. That’s because many of them have their own apps that you can download, helping you keep an ear out for the best information about your surrounding area. I live near New York, so I can watch my local ABC affiliate, ABC 7 New York, by downloading the station’s app through my Roku. I can watch local newscasts live from the channel as well as some of the programming on demand.
If you’ve ever been to New York City and have ridden in a taxi, think of it like being able to watch some of what they show on the TVs on the seatback from your home. The shortened and condensed versions of the news give you a quick update on all that’s happening. Depending on the station and where you live, there may not be an app for it. But CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX all have apps for local channels, so you should be able to get something in your area, unless your area is incredibly remote.
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2
Use a digital antenna
This works for more than just local channels
Many people who decide to cancel their cable subscription do so because they don’t watch much TV anyway. If they do, it might have been one or two channels, not enough to justify the high costs of a subscription. A digital TV antenna is a simple way to get the channels that are near you without having to pay a subscription to watch them. Basically, a digital antenna works by picking up local TV signals and transmitting them back to your television.
The trickiest part of using a digital antenna is just figuring out where to put it. You might need to test it in a few spots — on a wall, near a window, up high, or even in the attic — to get the best signal. But once you find the sweet spot and plug the coaxial cable into your TV, a quick channel scan will show you what you’re working with. Usually, you’ll pull in a solid lineup of local channels, including your local news. It’s an affordable way to stay in the loop without needing cable or a smart TV.
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3
Use free streamers to watch local news
Many of the best options are available
Free streamers could be the way to go for you to find the local news that you’re looking for. If you have a Roku streaming device or a Roku TV, you can find local channels through The Roku Channel, which has a section for local news in different major cities. You can search the surrounding areas, if you live near one, and tune in to news channels that run 24/7. The same goes for Pluto TV. There are dedicated channels on the platform that show up in the news and opinion section.
As long as you’re using a smart TV, you’ll have access to many local news channels for free.
You can catch news from major cities like New York or LA, and if you’re looking for something closer to home, just type your city into Pluto TV’s search bar — it might pull up channels or shows from nearby. To make things easier, you can even save your go-to channels as favorites so you don’t have to dig for them every time. Other free apps like NewsON are great too. It teams up with local ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX stations to bring you local news from all over the country. They cover around 90% of the US, and it’s free to watch — especially handy if you’re using a Roku.
