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Canceling cable does not mean giving up local breaking news, weather, traffic, or scheduled newscasts. You have three practical free options: connect an HDTV antenna, install a local-news app such as NewsON or Haystack News, or use your smart TV’s free live-TV guide or an official local-station app.
They are not interchangeable. An antenna receives the actual local broadcast signal when it reaches your address. Streaming services may provide a live digital feed, selected newscasts, clips, or on-demand replays—and their coverage varies by city and platform.
At a glance
| Option | Internet required? | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDTV antenna | No for the broadcast signal | The most complete local broadcast coverage | Reception depends on your location and antenna placement |
| NewsON or Haystack News | Yes | No-hardware access to local and broader news | Your exact station may not be available, and feeds differ |
| Free TV guide or station app | Yes for streaming | Using tools already built into your TV | Lineups and local-station availability vary |
1. Connect an HDTV antenna
An antenna is the closest free replacement for cable’s local ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CW, and independent broadcast stations—provided those signals reach your home. It can deliver live newscasts, weather warnings, traffic reports, and other over-the-air programming without a monthly TV subscription or internet connection.
Before buying one, check your exact address with AntennaWeb and review the FCC’s digital-TV reception guidance. Do not rely only on an antenna box’s advertised “50-mile” or “100-mile” range. Walls, metal siding, concrete, hills, trees, nearby buildings, elevation, and the station’s VHF or UHF frequency all affect reception.
#1 Best Overall
- Digital TV Converter Box: 2026 OWERSLYN Mini Digital Converter Box for TV receives ATSC broadcast signals from an antenna and outputs them to a TV, Projector, or a Monitor, allowing you to watch TV programs with ease. its compact design lets you conveniently hide it behind your TV.
- 75% smaller than normal ATSC tuner that can be plugged into your TV’s HDMl port and powered by TV’s USB or 5V USB Charger, can tuck neatly behind your TV. IR infrared sensor and 2-in-1 Remote control with learning function so you don't have to use the old remote control as well. Note: CH3/CH4 channel switching is not supported.
- TV converter box features an HDMI output that supports 1080P HD resolution and offers three video output options: HDMI, 3RCA, and component. Both HDMI and 3RCA cables are included in the package, so there's no need to buy additional video cables—just plug and play. *Note: Not compatible with TVs that only have an RF input.
- You can play video,music and view photos, or recorded TV shows from your USB storage device.Real-time DVR recording of digital converter box allows you to record TV shows for future watch, timer setting can be scheduled recording at any time you want. (Incompatible with streaming programs)
- What You Get: 1 x TV Tuner Stick,1 x 2 in1 Remote Control,1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x 3RCA Cable, 1 x USB to DC Cable, 1 x lR Receiver with display, 1 x Manual.📞 Enjoy lifetime support, one-year warranty, and quick responses within 24 hours. Important Note: This device receives Over-The-Air signals via an antenna. It does NOT work as a replacement for a Cable Box. An external antenna (sold separately) is required.
What you need
- An HDTV antenna suited to your reception conditions
- A coaxial cable
- A television with a digital tuner and an Antenna, RF, or VHF/UHF input
- An optional amplifier, used only when reception conditions justify it
A smart TV normally includes a digital tuner, but a monitor or display without one cannot scan broadcast channels. A Roku, Fire TV, or other streaming stick generally cannot accept an antenna directly; the antenna must connect to a compatible television, external tuner, or networked antenna device.
How to scan for channels
- Plug the antenna cable into the TV’s Antenna, RF, or VHF/UHF input.
- Open the television’s settings and select Antenna, not Cable, as the signal type.
- Choose Auto Program, Auto Tuning, Channel Scan, or Digital Scan.
- Wait for the scan to finish, then test the stations you care about.
Menu names differ by manufacturer. Sony’s general instructions use Signal Type, Antenna, and Auto Program. On a Roku TV, the current examples are Home > Live TV > Scan for channels or Settings > TV inputs > Live TV > Set up input. Roku says an internet connection is needed to complete antenna setup and use its Live TV features, even though the broadcast signal itself is over the air.
If the scan finds nothing—or channels break up
- Make sure the coaxial connector is firmly attached.
- Confirm the TV is set to Antenna, not Cable.
- Move the antenna higher, closer to a window, and toward the transmission towers.
- Keep it away from metal, concrete, large appliances, electronics, and thick interior walls.
- Run the channel scan again after every major repositioning.
- If an amplifier is installed, confirm that it has power.
- If signals are already strong, remove the amplifier and rescan; an overloaded tuner can also cause problems.
- Consider an attic or outdoor antenna if indoor reception remains unreliable.
An antenna is the best first choice if “local news” means the actual local broadcast affiliates. It is less attractive when your apartment restricts antenna placement or your home is in a difficult terrain or reception area.
The Tool Desk
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Free news apps avoid antenna installation and use your existing internet connection. Open your TV’s app or channel store, search for NewsON or Haystack News, install the app, and then select a city, station, or local-news feed. If requested, allow location access or enter your ZIP code.
Rank #2
- Our ATSC digital TV converter box receives over-the-air ATSC digital TV broadcast via external antenna and converts it to your Analog and Digital TV, Projector, and Computer Monitor. TV recording, Favorite Channel List, Parental Control Function.
- Full HD: The 1080p output resolution allows you to watch and record free to air television depending on signal quality. Closed Caption, Auto Tuning, Timing Start Up & Shut Down.
- You can select view Photos, play MP3 music files and view movie files, and recorded TV program from your USB storage device.
- TV Recording Function: The function allows you to record TV programs in USB hard drive and playback on your TV or Computer.Note: This device does not have built-in storage and requires an external storage device. It is best suited for external hard drives with a FAT32 file system capacity of up to 4TB or flash drives with a capacity of up to 32GB.
- What You Get: 1 x Digital TV Box,1 x Remote Control,1 HDMI Cable, 1 Composite cable,1 year Warranty.
Before relying on a feed, check whether it is genuinely live, available only during scheduled newscasts, a repeated 24-hour stream, or an on-demand replay. A replay of a 6 p.m. newscast is useful, but it is not the same as receiving a live broadcast during a fast-moving storm or breaking-news event.
NewsON
NewsON focuses specifically on local television news. Its corporate site currently says the service has more than 285 local station partners in more than 150 U.S. markets and reaches over 90% of the country. Those are provider-reported figures and station participation can change. NewsON says it is free and does not require a cable subscription or login.
That broad reach still does not guarantee that your station is included. Search for your city or station inside the app before treating it as a complete cable replacement.
Haystack News
Haystack News is a free, ad-supported aggregator covering local, national, and international news. Its site lists support for Roku, Fire TV, Google TV and Android TV, Apple TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, and other platforms.
Rank #3
- 📺【TV Tuner】 ZJBOX 2024 Mini Digital Converter Box is used to receive ATSC broadcast signals from antennas or cables, and output them to TVs, projectors, or even monitors for watching TV programs. The converter box can be hidden behind the TV and is powered by a 5V USB adapter included in the package, making it especially suitable for wall-mounted TVs.
- 🔍【HDMI&1080P】The converter box with HDMI output supports 1080P HD. It provides three types of video output interfaces: HDMI, 3RCA, and component. HDMI and 3RCA cables provided in the package, so there's no need to purchase additional video cables; they can be used directly. Note: This depends on the resolution supported by your TV.
- 🔦【Two-in-One Remote Control】The two-in-one remote control features a learning function, allowing you to control both the digital converter stick and the TV without the need for two separate remotes. Pairing is required before use, with four programmable buttons (SET, TV/AV, VOL-, VOL+) available. It supports only infrared remote control.Battery Requirement: Requires AAA batteries (not included). Customers need to prepare batteries separately.
- 📼【DVR Recording】Record all your favorite TV shows and movies for future viewing. You can schedule recordings using a timer, and the TV programs will be stored on your external hard drive for convenient access whenever you want. Note: This device has better compatibility with external hard drives of up to 4TB with the FAT32 file system or up to 32GB flash drives.
- 📲【Many Features】This device has a variety of functions, including auto-channel selection, electronic program guide, channel favorites, instant/scheduled recording, CC subtitles, multifunctional remote control, timer power on/off, parental controls, and multimedia playback. These features can meet most of your needs.
Haystack can be a good choice if you want local updates alongside national and world coverage. Its “hundreds of channels” description includes all of those categories; it does not mean hundreds of local broadcast affiliates in every U.S. market.
Streaming apps require internet access. They may also show advertising, require an account depending on the device, and change their station lineups as distribution agreements change.
3. Use your TV’s free live-TV guide or an official station app
Many smart-TV platforms include free, ad-supported live channels in their guides. These services can be the easiest option because there is no antenna to position and no separate app to find—but the local coverage is the least predictable.
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On a Roku TV, open Home, then the Live TV area or The Roku Channel, and browse the free guide. Roku also lets viewers add apps through its Streaming Store. Depending on the device and market, available news options can include NewsON, Haystack News, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, and local-station apps. Roku’s guide can combine streaming channels with antenna channels on supported Roku TVs.
Rank #4
- New 2025 Version from Mediasonic Store. The new improvements included LARGE Remote Control, 3 ft HDMI Cable, Display Panel, Clear QAM, Support hard drive up to 4TB*, reception sensitivity, and 12 hr. AM / PM feature.
- Clear QAM function can be used with cable provider to watch unscrambled cable channels.
- Support 1080P Video Output via HDMI (HDMI Cable Included), and Dolby Digital Audio. IR Receiver with Display Panel to show Channel number and Sub-Channel
- Powered by TV’s USB port (USB Type A) or 5V USB Charger. USB-C (Type C) power connector on the main unit provides fallibility for user to change longer USB cable and adapt different type of 5V USB Charger
- Receive Over-The-Air ATSC Digital Broadcast to your Analog and Digital TV, Projector, and Computer Monitor.
See Roku’s Live TV information, free-TV support page, and news-app guidance for current platform details.
Google TV
In the United States, Google TV Freeplay provides free live channels and may surface no-cost channels from supported apps such as Haystack News, Plex, Pluto TV, and Tubi. The exact lineup depends on the device, country, app integration, and current platform agreements.
NBC News NOW and other network feeds
NBC News NOW is a free national news stream available on several platforms, including Roku, Fire TV, LG smart-TV channels, and Android TV or Google TV. It can provide useful continuous news, but a national stream is not automatically the same as your local NBC affiliate.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Try the local station’s own app
If you mainly care about one newsroom, the station’s official app may be more useful than a general aggregator. Search your TV’s app store and the web for:
Best Value
- [DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX] The digital TV converter box, converts digital air channels to your analog TVs. Allow you to watch TV channels on your analog TV or computer monitor.
- [CLEARQAM COMPATIBLE] This converter box supports ClearQAM and can be used with a cable provider to watch unscrambled cable channels
- [SAVE TV PROGRAM] iView-3300STB digital converter box with clock function supports TV program saving function. You may save TV programs for future watch
- [UNIVERSAL MEDIA PLAYER] This digital converter box is also a media player. You may save your media files in the USB drive and play videos, music, and watch photos via the converter box’s USB port. Supports up to 4TB portable hard drive.
- [New Firmware] A new firmware update is now available to resolve existing issues and enhance overall performance. Please contact iView technial support for detail
[city] ABC news app[call sign] news[city] NBC live[city] CBS news[city] FOX news
Verify that the app is published by the station or its station group, rather than an unrelated app using a similar name. Local stations may offer live newscasts, weather updates, alerts, clips, and on-demand segments on selected devices. Availability is market-specific. For example, NBC Los Angeles lists distribution through Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Local Now, Pluto, Google TV, and other services.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which free option should you choose?
- Want the actual local channels? Start with an antenna and check your address on AntennaWeb.
- Want no hardware? Try NewsON, Haystack News, or your station’s official app.
- Already own a Roku or Google TV device? Check its free live-TV guide first, then search its app store for your local station.
- Care about one specific station? Prefer that station’s official app when it offers a live or scheduled stream.
- Live in a rural, mountainous, or obstructed area? Test reception before buying an antenna; an attic or outdoor model may be necessary.
- Have several TVs? You may need an antenna for each TV, or a networked tuner such as those offered by Tablo, HDHomeRun, or AirTV. These setups are more complicated and may add account, storage, network, or feature requirements.
What these free methods do not guarantee
Free options may not provide every local affiliate, every cable-news channel, a single unified channel guide, DVR functionality, regional sports, or uninterrupted live coverage during every event. “Free local news” might mean a complete live newscast, a limited digital channel, selected clips, or an on-demand replay.
App catalogs, station partnerships, geographic availability, and platform menus can change. Check the official station website and the specific app listing for your TV model and U.S. market. NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) is a separate and evolving broadcast standard; do not assume every TV can decode every ATSC 3.0 feature.
Bottom line
Test a free station app or news aggregator before canceling cable. If you want the most dependable access to the local ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CW, or independent station itself, add an HDTV antenna after checking reception at your address. Streaming apps are easier, but their local coverage is selective and internet-dependent.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
