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Yes—Roku has made free local-TV discovery easier, but it has not made every local broadcast channel universally available online. The Roku Channel, NewsON, Haystack News, and station apps can provide free local news streams. For the complete over-the-air feeds of nearby ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, or CW affiliates, an HDTV antenna connected to a Roku TV remains the most reliable free option.
Choose the right Roku method
| What you want | Best first option | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Local news, weather, or traffic | NewsON, Haystack News, or The Roku Channel | Free streams vary by market and may not include a station’s entire schedule. |
| Full local broadcast networks | HDTV antenna plus Roku TV | Reception depends on your location, antenna placement, and local towers. |
| Local channels plus cable networks and sports | Paid live-TV service | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and Fubo require subscriptions and vary by ZIP code. |
| Recording antenna programs | Networked antenna DVR | A device such as Tablo adds recording and distribution features. |
What Roku now offers for free
Roku says The Roku Channel includes 500-plus free live streaming channels and advertises more than 100 free local channels. It lists examples including KHOU Houston, FOX25 Boston, and WSB Atlanta, along with local NBC news feeds for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas–Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and South Florida. Roku’s live-TV page identifies these figures and examples, but availability is market-specific and can change.
Most of those 500-plus channels are FAST channels: free, ad-supported internet streams that run on a linear schedule. They are not the same thing as 500 local broadcast affiliates. Even when Roku offers a local station feed, it may focus on local news and related programming rather than carrying everything broadcast by the station.
Roku’s Live TV Channel Guide makes the experience easier to navigate by combining streaming channels with antenna listings on compatible Roku TVs. The guide can show programming up to seven days ahead. Roku also announced a redesigned Home Screen beginning May 27, 2026, with a Free destination and simplified navigation. That improves discovery, but it does not guarantee that your local ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC affiliate is available as a free stream.
#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
How to watch local news without an antenna
The Roku Channel
Open the Live TV area on your Roku device and search for your station’s call sign or local-news programming. Roku’s own local offerings are the simplest place to start, but check the actual stream before assuming it is a complete station feed.
NewsON
NewsON provides free live and on-demand newscasts. The company says its service includes more than 285 local-station partners in more than 135 markets and covers over 90% of the United States. That is NewsON’s stated coverage figure, not a guarantee for every ZIP code. NewsON is available through its Roku app.
It is particularly useful when you want a local morning, evening, or breaking-news broadcast, when you are traveling, or when your station is not prominent in Roku’s own local-news listings. It is not a replacement for the station’s full schedule, local sports rights, or every syndicated program.
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- Ultra-speedy streaming: Roku Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, delivering a lightning-fast interface and apps that launch in a snap.
- Cinematic streaming: This TV streaming device brings the movie theater to your living room with spectacular 4K, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision picture alongside immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- The ultimate Roku remote: The rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro offers backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and a lost remote finder.
- No more fumbling in the dark: See what you’re pressing with backlit buttons.
- Say goodbye to batteries: Keep your remote powered for months on a single charge.
Haystack News
Roku also lists Haystack News as a free local-news option. Add the app and enter your ZIP code to receive relevant local news, weather, and traffic coverage. Haystack is an aggregator and personalized news service, so the mix of clips, sources, and live coverage can differ by market. It should not be treated as a guaranteed continuous feed from one particular affiliate.
Local station apps
Search the Roku Channel Store for your station’s call letters. Some stations offer live news, recent broadcasts, weather, or selected clips; others may offer only on-demand content or may not have a Roku app. Streaming rights vary, so a station app is worth checking but cannot be assumed to provide the full over-the-air channel.
For full local broadcast channels, use an antenna
If your priority is the actual free broadcast signal from nearby ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, or CW affiliates, an HDTV antenna is usually the strongest answer. It receives over-the-air broadcasts directly rather than streaming them through the internet.
Rank #3
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
This requires a Roku TV with an antenna input—not merely a Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Express, or Roku Ultra. A standalone Roku player can run NewsON, Haystack, The Roku Channel, and station apps, but it cannot tune an antenna by itself. The antenna would need to connect to a Roku TV, another compatible television tuner, or a networked DVR.
Roku TV antenna setup
- Connect the antenna’s coaxial cable to the TV’s Ant/Cable In port.
- Connect power if the antenna is amplified.
- Press Home and select Live TV.
- Follow the scan instructions.
- If Live TV is not shown, open Settings → TV inputs → Live TV → Set up input.
Roku’s antenna setup guidance recommends placing the antenna near a window and as high as practical, then aiming it toward local broadcast towers where possible. Real reception depends on terrain, buildings, tower direction, indoor interference, antenna quality, and broadcast power. A label claiming “up to 100 miles” is not a reception guarantee.
Does antenna TV require internet on Roku?
There are two different questions here. The broadcast signal arrives through the antenna, not your broadband connection. However, Roku says a Roku TV must be connected to the internet to complete antenna setup and use Live TV features. Its enhanced guide also uses internet access for streaming listings and detailed over-the-air program information. Without internet, a basic channel list may still be available.
Rank #4
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Internet is required for The Roku Channel, NewsON, Haystack News, and other streaming apps. In other words, free antenna reception is not identical to internet-free Roku operation.
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Roku’s guide can mix streaming channels with antenna stations. If you want to see only over-the-air channels:
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- Select Hide streaming TV channels.
- Check Hide all.
Use the same menu to restore streaming channels later. Menu names can vary slightly by Roku TV model, software version, or region.
Best Value
- Streaming made easy: Roku Express lets you stream free, live and premium TV over the Internet—right to your TV. It’s perfect for new users, secondary TVs and easy gifting—but powerful enough for seasoned pros
- Quick and easy setup: Just plug it into your TV with the included High Speed HDMI Cable and connect to the internet to get started
- Tons of power, tons of fun: Compact and power-packed, you’ll stream your favorites with ease; from movies and series on Apple TV, Prime Video, Netflix, The Roku Channel, HBO, Showtime and Google Play to cable alternatives like Hulu with Live TV and PlayStation Vue, enjoy the most talked about TV across free and paid channels
- Low cost, no extra fees: For under $30, Roku Express streaming device includes a High Speed HDMI Cable—and there’s no monthly equipment fee; with access to free TV on hundreds of channels, there’s plenty to stream without spending extra
- Simple remote: Incredibly easy to use, this remote features shortcut buttons to popular streaming channels
Fix missing or incorrect local channels
The wrong local stations appear
First correct the ZIP code used for guide data:
- Open Home → Settings → System → Zip code.
- Enter the correct ZIP code.
- Set up the Live TV input again.
- Rescan the over-the-air channels.
The ZIP code changes guide information; it does not improve the antenna signal. Physical reception still determines which stations the tuner can find.
No channels were found
- Make sure the coaxial cable is firmly connected.
- Run Settings → TV inputs → Live TV → Scan for channels.
- Move the antenna near a window or to a higher position.
- Aim it toward local broadcast towers.
- Move it away from thick walls, metal, concrete, large appliances, Wi-Fi routers, LED bulbs, baby monitors, and cellular boosters.
- Confirm that an amplified antenna has power.
- If you are very close to broadcast towers, try scanning without the amplifier. Excessive signal strength can overload the tuner.
A more expensive antenna is not automatically the solution. Apartment placement, valleys, dense construction, obstructions, and multipath interference can matter more than the advertised range.
What Roku cannot provide universally for free
Roku cannot guarantee that every local affiliate offers a free internet stream. A local-news feed may be available while the station’s complete broadcast schedule is not. Program rights also differ: local news, network entertainment, syndicated shows, and sports can each have separate streaming restrictions.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFree Roku channels and an antenna also do not replace every cable network, regional sports network, premium channel, or live sporting event. If you need local networks alongside ESPN, cable news, entertainment channels, broad sports coverage, or cloud DVR, compare paid live-TV services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and Fubo. Local availability, plans, and pricing vary by ZIP code and can change.
Roku setup choices by household
- Already own a Roku TV: Try The Roku Channel, NewsON, and Haystack first. Add an antenna if you want full local broadcast networks.
- Own a regular television: A Roku player adds streaming apps, but it does not directly tune an antenna.
- Buying a new television: A Roku TV is the simplest all-in-one combination of streaming and antenna viewing. Confirm the specific model has the expected antenna input and Live TV functions.
- Want to record antenna programs: Consider a networked antenna DVR such as Tablo, while checking current compatibility and service requirements.
- Need cable networks and sports: A paid live-TV service is the relevant option, not a free local-news app.
The practical answer
Roku has made local-TV discovery easier by bringing free streaming channels, local-news services, and—on compatible Roku TVs—antenna listings into one Live TV experience. But “local TV” still means different things. Start with free apps if you mainly want news, weather, or traffic. Add an antenna if you want the most dependable path to complete local broadcast networks. Choose a paid live-TV service only when you also need cable networks, broader sports coverage, or subscription DVR features.
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