A Smart TV is a television that is able to connect to a wide range of online features through internet connection. Unlike the older generation TVs that can only connect to antennas or cable TV connection, Smart TVs come with powerful processors and software that offers internet connectivity to online web content.
This gives your television an experience that resembles what you can only get in a smartphone or tablet. A lot of smart TVs come preinstalled with multiple apps and you can also download more applications from an app store that offers a wide selection of apps that include streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Video or social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Smart TVs also allow you to view content from your phone or tablets to the television screen through a process called Casting.
With your Smart TV, you can also watch local networks like your local news, sports, weather, and kids channels without the need of a cable connection. This can be done through various ways including the good old fashioned antenna method, streaming services apps, Live TV subscription, or through local network websites. In this article, you will be guided through the different methods you can watch your local networks conveniently on your Smart TV.
- How Can I Watch Local TV Channels On A Smart TV?
- How To Watch Local TV Channels On Your Smart TV Offline Without Cable?
- How To Watch Local TV Channels On Your Smart TV Online
- Will I be able to Use my Smart TV without Internet Connection?
- Is Buying a Smart TV Worth it?
- Am I able to Access Local TV Channels through my Smart TV?
- Is my Smart TV at High Risk of Contracting Virus?
- What are the Brands that Manufacture Good Smart TVs?
- Conclusion
How Can I Watch Local TV Channels On A Smart TV?
Smart TV makes it possible for you to watch a lot of channels over the internet without having to go through the difficulties and expenses involved in setting up a cable TV connection. With a lot of features and benefits, you can watch your local TV networks on your Smart TV. With the use of an antenna or different types of streaming services, you can avoid paying the high cost of cable TV. These are low-cost solutions that actually give a much better TV experience.
How To Watch Local TV Channels On Your Smart TV Offline Without Cable?
#1) Antenna
For years, Antennas have been among the easiest and cheapest ways of watching local TV networks on your home televisions free of charge. All you need is a one-time purchase of a good indoor antenna that will connect to the local network broadcast and you will get free access to the network on your television. Antennas have come a long way and you can now find antennas that stream high quality services in HD. These good antennas include Mohu Leaf antenna, Blimark HDTV antenna, 1byOne HDTV antenna, Philips indoor antenna, etc.
After purchasing a good antenna, connect the antenna to your TV through the “ANT IN” port on your Smart TV and change the “Source” to “TV“. Your TV will scan for the available local TV networks around and you can connect to the one you wish to watch.
- Free local channels broadcast.
- Affordable.
- Innovation in its technology.
- Limited access to premium channels.
- Not available in some locations.
- Weather disruptions.
#2) Satellite TV Connection
Satellite TV is a type of broadcast that uses communication satellites in space to provide television programming by beaming the signal directly from space to the viewers home television set-up. The satellite TV setup includes a satellite dish, low noise block down converter, and a receiver. Setting up a Satellite TV connection is not easy and you will need help from a professional before you can start viewing your local channels.
- Accessible almost anywhere in the world.
- Cost effective with no monthly bills.
- Wide selection of global channels.
- Costly and difficult installation.
- Frequent signal interruptions.
- Low video quality.
How To Watch Local TV Channels On Your Smart TV Online
1) Local TV Websites
Most local TV networks have websites where they post airings of all their shows and broadcasts for free. All you need to do is access the website on a device like your Smart TV, smartphone, tablet, or laptops and use an internet connection to get access to all the programs offered by the local networks. Examples of local TV networks that offer free broadcasting on their websites include, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, etc.
- Free access to broadcast.
- Easy to use.
- Available on almost all devices.
- Requires internet connection.
- UI/UX not favorable.
2) Local Networks Applications
On your Smart TV, you are able to access a wide selection of applications that are available for download on the App Store. These include official applications from local TV networks where you get the chance to watch recent or live show airings from the networks. A lot of these applications are free and do not require any subscription before using them. Even with the paid applications, you still get access to a lot of free content.
These applications are available for both Android and iOS devices. Some of these apps include CBS All Access, CW, PBS Video, The NBC app, FOX and ABC.
- User-friendly interface.
- Affordable and cost effective.
- Regular updates of programs.
- Internet connection required.
3) Streaming Services
There are a lot of streaming services that broadcast local networks in almost every market in the United States. These services are cheap and offer the live streaming of major local broadcast networks like ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS and more.
These apps will need you to subscribe to their services and paying a monthly subscription fee that could range from $35 to $80 depending on the type of streaming services and the package you are paying for. Below are the streaming services you can use to watch local networks on your Smart TV.
- Hulu + Live TV:
- ABC, FOX, CBS, CW and NBC streaming.
- $69.99 a month.
- Supported on Smart TVs, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android devices.
- Fubo TV:
- FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, and sports channels like FS1, FS2, beIN sports and BTN streaming.
- $69.99 a month.
- Supported on Smart TVs, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android devices.
- 1 week free trial.
- YouTube TV:
- ABC, FOX, CBS, CW, and NBC streaming.
- $64.99 a month.
- Supported on Smart TVs, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS and Android devices.
- 1 week free trial.
- DirecTV Stream:
- ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, The CW, and PBS.
- $69.99 a month.
- Supported on AppleTV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon FireTV, Chromecast and more.
- 5 day free trial.
- SlingTV:
- FOX and NBC streaming.
- $35 to $50 a month.
- Supported on Smart TVs, Windows, AppleTV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon FireTV, Chromecast, Android and iOS devices.
- 1 week free trial.
- Available across a lot of devices.
- User-friendly and versatile.
- Affordable and easy to access.
- Requires subscription.
- Internet connection needed.
Will I be able to Use my Smart TV without Internet Connection?
Yes. Your Smart TV has all the features of a normal television and can thereby work without the use of an internet connection. You can use cable TV connection, antenna, or satellite TV to connect to different broadcasting networks.
Is Buying a Smart TV Worth it?
If you are a person that is tired of the high cost and inconvenience of cable TV connection and would like to try cutting the cord, then you should definitely consider buying a Smart TV. With internet connectivity, different types of applications, gaming support and user-friendly interface, Smart TVs offer an experience like no other.
Am I able to Access Local TV Channels through my Smart TV?
Yes. You can access your local TV networks the same way you do on a normal television through an antenna, cable TV, or satellite TV. There are also more ways to stream these local networks like streaming applications, streaming websites and Chromecast.
Is my Smart TV at High Risk of Contracting Virus?
Unfortunately, Yes. Because of smart TV’s ability to connect to the online web, it becomes vulnerable to malware caused by virus. Hackers have found a way to break into your television’s defences. To be on the safe side, you should refrain from accessing sensitive information like bank details and other personal information on your smart TV.
What are the Brands that Manufacture Good Smart TVs?
A lot of manufactures make Smart TVs because Smart TVs are gaining a lot of recognition from people. The most popular manufacturers of Smart TVs include Samsung, LG, Toshiba, JVC, Sony and Panasonic.
Conclusion
Smart TVs offer various methods of connecting to your favourite channels without needing to go through the high cost and complicated process of setting up a cable TV connection. You can watch your local TV networks for free using a HD antenna, Satellite TV, Local networks websites and applications, or you can subscribe to streaming services that offer local networks like NBC, ABC, CBS, CW, FOX as part of their packages for a price cheaper than that of cable TV monthly contracts.
In this article, we have outlined all the methods that will help you access your favourite local TV networks without the hassle of cable TV. Hopefully, these methods have been useful to you and you now know how to connect to local networks on your smart TV.