Short answer: the cheapest way to get local channels is still a $25 to $50 antenna, which gets ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS free forever if you're within range. If an antenna won't work where you live, the cheapest paid route depends on which network you care about: live local NBC comes with Peacock Premium Plus ($19.99), live local CBS with Paramount+'s higher tier, and Fox with Fox One ($19.99). ABC is the awkward one. There's no cheap standalone way to stream your live local ABC station, so for that you need a live TV service, and the cheapest with all four is YouTube TV's Sports Plan at $64.99.
At a glance
Local channels, cheapest route per network
| All of them, free | Antenna, $25-50 once |
| NBC | Peacock Premium Plus, $19.99 |
| CBS | Paramount+ upper tier |
| Fox | Fox One, $19.99 |
| All four in one app | YouTube TV Sports Plan, $64.99 |
Try the antenna first, properly
Most people who say "an antenna doesn't work here" tried a flat indoor antenna stuck behind the TV, once. Before spending $240 a year on a streaming workaround, it's worth a proper attempt.
- Check the map. The FCC's DTV reception maps and sites like RabbitEars show which stations reach your address and from which direction. If your stations are within 30 to 40 miles, an indoor antenna usually works.
- Move it. A window facing the transmitters, higher is better. Moving an antenna three feet can add or drop a whole network.
- Rescan. Every time you move it, run a channel scan on the TV.
- Go outdoors or into the attic if you're 40 to 70 miles away. An attic antenna costs $50 to $100 and pulls in far more.
If you do get reception, you get the best picture of any method, uncompressed HD, sometimes 4K on ATSC 3.0 stations, with no monthly fee. Our antenna guide covers choosing and placing one in more detail.
One 2026 wrinkle: ATSC 3.0 ("NextGen TV") is rolling out, and some stations encrypt those signals. Older TVs still receive the regular ATSC 1.0 versions of the same channels, so you don't need new hardware to start.
Network by network, if the antenna fails
Local channels are licensed station by station, which is why there's no single cheap app for all of them. Here's what each network offers directly as of September 2026.
NBC
Peacock Premium Plus ($19.99 a month, or $199.99 a year) streams your live local NBC affiliate in most markets. The cheaper Premium tier ($12.99) has NBC's sports and next-day shows but not the live local feed. For Sunday Night Football, even Premium is enough, since Peacock streams it nationally.
CBS
Paramount+ carries live local CBS on its upper tier in most markets. The entry Essential plan ($8.99 after the January 2026 increase) is on-demand plus some live sports, but not the full local station. Check your ZIP on the Paramount+ site; a few affiliates aren't included.
Fox
Fox One, launched in 2025 at $19.99 a month, streams Fox's local stations in most markets along with FS1, FS2, Fox News and Big Ten Network. If you also want ESPN, the ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle is $39.99.
ABC
No direct option. The ABC app requires a TV provider login for live local ABC. ESPN Unlimited shows ESPN-produced events that air on ABC, like college football and the NBA Finals, but not local news or primetime. For the live local station you need an antenna or a live TV service.
PBS
Easy and free. The PBS app streams many local member stations live at no cost, and PBS Passport (a donation to your local station) unlocks the back catalog.
The full price comparison
| Option | Monthly (Sept 2026) | ABC | CBS | Fox | NBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antenna | $0 after $25-50 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Peacock Premium Plus | $19.99 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Fox One | $19.99 | No | No | Yes | No |
| Paramount+ upper tier | about $14 | No | Most markets | No | No |
| Sling Blue | $45.99 | No | No | Some markets | Some markets |
| YouTube TV Sports Plan | $64.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube TV base | $82.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Adding up the direct apps for NBC, CBS and Fox gets you to about $54 a month with no ABC. At that point YouTube TV's Sports Plan, which has all four plus ESPN for $11 more, is the better deal.
Over three years, the gap gets silly
Monthly prices make everything look manageable. Stretch them out and the antenna's advantage is hard to ignore.
- Antenna: $40 once. Three-year cost: $40.
- Antenna plus Tablo DVR: about $190 once. Three-year cost: $190.
- Peacock Premium Plus for NBC only: $199.99 a year paid annually. Three-year cost: about $600.
- YouTube TV Sports Plan: $64.99 a month. Three-year cost: about $2,340, assuming no price rises, which there have been every year since 2019.
That's not a reason to avoid streaming. YouTube TV includes ESPN and much more. But if local channels are genuinely all you want, paying monthly for them is the most expensive way to get something broadcasters give away over the air.
Just want local news?
This is the cheapest case of all. Free apps like NewsON stream live newscasts from a couple of hundred affiliate stations, and many local stations stream their own newscasts free on their website, their app, or on Roku and Fire TV channels. Free ad-supported services like Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Roku Channel also carry local news feeds in larger markets.
You won't get primetime shows or live sports this way. But if the evening news and weather are what you miss, you don't need to pay anything.
Recording antenna TV
The one real advantage streaming services have over an antenna is cloud DVR. You can close that gap:
- Tablo (about $100 to $200 depending on model): connects your antenna to your Wi-Fi, records to built-in or USB storage, and streams to every TV in the house through an app.
- HDHomeRun (about $100 to $200): a network tuner that works with Plex, Channels DVR and its own app. Handy if you already run a media server; see using Plex for live TV.
- Some TVs and streaming boxes have built-in antenna tuners with basic recording to USB.
A one-off $150 tuner pays for itself in about seven months compared with Peacock Premium Plus alone.
Our picks by situation
Good reception: antenna, done. Add a Tablo if you want recording.
Weak reception, one network matters: the direct app for that network. NBC fans take Peacock Premium Plus, Fox and Big Ten fans take Fox One.
No reception, want all four: YouTube TV Sports Plan at $64.99. It's the cheapest service with every network in one guide.
Only care about news: NewsON and your stations' own free streams.
Tempted by an "IPTV with all US locals" for $10: don't. Local stations are licensed per market, and these services aren't licensed at all. Where IPTV is and isn't legal in the US.
Not sure where to start with streaming at all? The cheapest ways to watch live TV is the broader version of this page.
Quick answers
What's the cheapest way to get local channels? An antenna. It costs $25 to $50 once and nothing after that.
How do I get local channels without an antenna? Direct apps per network (Peacock Premium Plus for NBC, Paramount+ for CBS, Fox One for Fox), or YouTube TV for all four in one place.
Can I stream my local ABC station without cable? Only through a live TV service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, or with an antenna. There's no standalone ABC streaming subscription.
Does Sling have local channels? Sling Blue includes Fox and NBC in some larger markets, not ABC or CBS.
Are local news apps really free? Yes. NewsON and many station apps stream live newscasts free with ads.
Can I record antenna channels? Yes, with a DVR tuner like Tablo or HDHomeRun.
Will ATSC 3.0 make my antenna useless? No. Stations still broadcast standard signals, and the transition is gradual.
Local station availability on streaming services varies by ZIP code and affiliate agreements; confirm your market before subscribing. Prices are US list prices. Checked September 2026.