How to Get Local Channels on Roku

If you’ve decided to cut the cord and move on to streaming services, you’ll probably miss some of your favorite local channels.

If you have Roku, you can subscribe to an abundance of channels, but there’s a big chance that your favorite local ones are not on the list.

However, there are a few methods to get some of your favorite local channels on Roku. You can use features such as ‘private channels’ or access to YouTube. Read this article to find out how to access local channels on Roku.

Get Your Local Channels via Private Channel

Maybe your favorite local channels are already on Roku, but they are ‘private channels.’ If so, you‘ll need to type in a channel code to unlock them. Do the following:

Visit the website of your favorite local channel.
Check on the website if there is any information about their Roku channel.
If there is one, and it’s a private channel, get a code from the website.
Sign in to your Roku account.
Go to ‘Manage Account.’
Enter ‘Add Channel With a Code.’
Enter the channel code address.
Select ‘Add Channel.’

Official Free Local TV Channels on the Roku Store

If you want to find local channels on Roku, you should also visit the official channel store. On the channel store, you may find both third-party local channels and those that are connected to major networks.

Currently, there are over a hundred local news channels that you can watch for free. You can find these free channels under the ‘News and Weather’ section. Some of these local news channels include WSB-TV, FOX13 Memphis, WBRC FOX 6 News, Boston 25, KGTV10 San Diego.

Free Third-Party News Channels

There are free Roku apps that offer pre-recorded news. Some of these news broadcasts may be focused on local events.

NewsOn – This is collaboration among some of the biggest television groups in the U.S: Media General, Hearst Television, Raycom Media, ABC, and Cox Media Group. It offers live and pre-recorded newscast from over 175 stations.
Haystack TV – This is a brilliant option for watching both national and local news. Haystack TV collaborates with 150 local news stations, such as Pittsburgh KDKA, Los Angeles KCAL, NBC Nebraska, etc.
Pluto TV – You can watch live newscasts for free on Pluto TV. The news are mostly based on national events, but some are also focused locally.

Streaming Local Channels with Subscription Service

There are plenty of streaming options that offer dozens of local TV stations that you can broadcast both live and on-demand. However, you’ll need to pay a certain subscription fee for them. On the other hand, you won’t be limited to Roku, as you’ll be able to use any other streaming device too.

These subscription services stream local channels (and you can get them on Roku):

YouTube TV – It streams local content from NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC.
CBS All Access – Broadcasts local CBS stations. You can watch live TV and on-demand programming, as well as the latest news and all of the All Access original shows.
Sling TV, Hulu+ Live TV, DirecTV, PlayStation Vue all stream local content from FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS.

Have You Cut The Cord?

If you’re still using your cable subscription, you can stream on-demand content from various local and national TV stations from your provider.

You just need to log in to a channel by using your cable account. If you can, check with your cable provider for details. Some cable providers and channels can be accessed without cable account credentials, too.

You Can Use the OTA Antenna

If you have a Roku TV (or a television with a built-in Roku system) you can attach an HDTV antenna and stream OTA TV with it. This will allow you to capture channels in a 100-mile radius, which means most of the local TV stations.

Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the antenna, and enjoy the content. The modern-age antennas are relatively cheap and provide a crisp image. When streamed through Roku, the quality just gets even better.

Stream Local Channels on Roku via YouTube

There are plenty of local networks that started streaming their content on YouTube. Some even broadcast non-stop, such as independent local TV stations that are using YouTube’s services. If your local TV doesn’t have a 24/7 broadcast, you can still watch excerpts from TV shows, news broadcasts, or even episodes of your favorite TV shows via YouTube.

Before you do, you need to get the official YouTube app for your Roku, and then log in to your Google account.

Think Globally, Watch Locally

Even the smallest town has its own TV station, and in most of the developed countries, that TV station broadcasts on the digital network. If you have a streaming device such as Roku, there’s a huge possibility that you’re able to stream it.

There are various ways to get local channels on your Roku. Thanks to its picture-enhancing capabilities, you’ll be able to watch the highest quality local content around.

Do you know of any other ways to get local channels on Roku? What’s your favorite method? Share your opinion in the comments below.