How to Get Local Channels on Firestick
Want to watch local channels on Firestick? Below are several methods you can use to access live TV on your favorite streaming devices.
Firestick is a popular streaming device that allows users to access a wide range of entertainment options, including movies, TV shows, and live TV channels. However, becoming a cord-cutter can often give the feeling that you are going to miss out on local channels, which were always available through cable. Good news, though. There are several methods you can use to get local channels on Firestick. After all, the streaming device is full of possibilities and unlocks much more content than you can get on cable.
Whether you want to watch news, sports, or other programming, we’ll take you through some of the best ways to get local channels on Firestick and enjoy all the programming your area has to offer.
1. Using an Antenna or Media Server (Free)
Using an over-the-air digital antenna is a great option as it allows users to receive high-definition local channels without paying for a subscription service. This is because local channels are broadcast over the airwaves for free, and an antenna allows you to pick up those signals and display them on your TV or media server. Using a digital antenna, you can access major networks like CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox, as well as other local channels available in your area.
There are several methods you can use to get signals through an antenna.
Connect an Antenna Directly to your TV
The easiest method to connect an Antenna would be to bypass your Amazon Fire TV stick entirely and simply connect it to the TV. This method is the cheapest, and it allows you to receive local channels in HD. The method works for all TVs, including those that run on Fire OS.
Connect an antenna to an HDHomeRun device
If you want to stream live TV programming to multiple devices on your home network, you can connect an over-the-air antenna to an HDHomeRun device. This is a hardware device that can receive over-the-air TV signals from an antenna and then stream the signal to multiple devices on the home network.
To use an HDHomeRun device to access local channels on your Firestick, you will need to connect an over-the-air antenna to the device, then connect it to your router via cable. The device can then stream live TV programming to other devices, including your Firestick. All you will need to do is download and install the HDHomeRun app on your Firestick. This app will allow you to access live TV programming from the HDHomeRun device and watch local TV channels with lots of flexibility that you would have when connecting your antenna to the TV. The biggest advantage is that you can access live TV on multiple devices, but you will also benefit from other features such as different simultaneous casts, pause and rewind, and DVR recording.
Note that the Amazon Fire TV Recast over-the-air DVR, which was a popular option in this section, was discontinued back in 2021.
Connect an antenna to a media server
You can also connect an over-the-air antenna to a media server, such as a computer or NAS (network-attached storage) device. You can then use a media server, such as Plex, Emby, or Kodi, on your Firestick to access the media server and watch live TV programming. This method is best for those already familiar with media servers, as the process is a bit technical. You can check out how to install Plex on Firestick.
2. Individual Networks Apps (Free)
Using individual network apps is another way to access local channels on your Firestick. All major news networks today offer free live streams through their websites and dedicated apps.
Some of the networks that you can download the apps and start watching are:
- ABC News
- Al Jazeera
- Bloomberg
- CBS News
- NBC News
- PBS NewsHour
Many news networks from other countries worldwide are also accessible for free. Most of these streams can even be accessed via YouTube through the networks’ main YouTube channels.
Using individual network apps can also be a good option if you only want to watch specific channels or shows on Firestick but have a cable subscription. For example, if you’re a fan of NBC programming, you can download the NBC app, sign in using your cable credentials, and stream live TV programming, as well as full episodes of shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
3. Local News Apps (Free)
There are several apps available on Firestick that aggregate free official streams from various sources, allowing you to access a wide range of content without the need for a cable or satellite TV subscription.
Some of the popular apps that offer live TV channels for free include:
- News: News is a pre-installed Firestick app offering users many free news services. The app is available in the US, and it tailors content based on your location – although you can change your location using Surfshark. The app provides access to a variety of live news channels, including major sources such as ABC News Live, CBS News, NBC News, Fox News, CNN, Cheddar News, Newsmax TV, Bloomberg TV, BBC World News, France 24, Newsy, and Yahoo Finance, as well as on-demand news clips and highlights.
- NewsON: NewsON is a free app that offers live local news broadcasts from over 200 stations across the United States. The app allows users to watch live news broadcasts and on-demand news clips from their local area. However, you can also switch your location using Surfshark and watch a channel from anywhere.
- Xumo: Xumo is another free app that offers live TV channels, including news, sports, and entertainment. The app offers over 200 channels, and it is entirely free.
- Pluto TV: Pluto TV offers over 250 live TV channels, grouped into sections such as sports, news, entertainment, and more. The app is completely free.
- STIRR: STIRR is a free app that offers over 100 channels and doesn’t require a cable or satellite TV subscription. You can use it to watch your local channels.
All these apps are available on the official Amazon app store.
4. Over-the-top (OTT) streaming services (Paid)
Over-the-top (OTT) streaming services are a type of media streaming service that deliver video content over the internet, including live TV. These services have become the go-to alternative to cable TV subscription services as they are cheaper and offer users much more flexibility. On top of that, they do not require long-term contracts or equipment rentals, and viewers can cancel or change their subscriptions at any time.
Below are some of the most popular OTT streaming services you can use to watch live TV.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is a popular over-the-top (OTT) streaming service that offers access to live television channels and on-demand content. In addition, to live sports and news, Hulu + Live TV also offers access to original programming and exclusive content.
Fubo TV
Fubo TV is a live streaming service that focuses primarily on sports, offering access to a wide range of live sports channels and on-demand content. In addition to sports, Fubo TV also offers news, movies, and other entertainment programming.
Sling TV
Sling TV is an OTT streaming service that offers access to live television channels and on-demand content. The service allows users to customize their channel lineup with various packages and add-ons, making it a flexible option for cord-cutters.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that offers access to a variety of channels, including live sports, news, and entertainment. In addition, to live TV, YouTube TV also offers a cloud-based DVR service and the ability to watch on multiple devices simultaneously.
Philo
Philo is an OTT streaming service that offers access to a variety of live television channels. The app is known for its low cost and lack of sports channels, making it a good option for those looking to save money and cut the cord.
DirecTV
DirecTV is a satellite TV service that offers access to a wide range of live television channels. In addition to its satellite service, DirecTV also offers an OTT streaming service called DirecTV Stream, which provides access to live TV channels and on-demand content.
These apps offer various packages, so you can choose the one that works best for you. However, note that these streaming services are also geo-restricted. If the app you’d like is not available in your region, you can connect Surfshark to a server in the US.
5. Use Live TV Streaming Apks (Free)
There are lots of apps that offer live TV streaming services live TV streaming APKs. These are free Android apps that aggregate live TV streams from the internet and present them in an organized manner. Such apps provide access to hundreds of free live TV streaming services, and you will find the biggest live TV channels from across the world.
However, it’s important to note that free live TV streaming apks are not vetted, and they can often provide access to pirated content. As a result, ensure that you protect yourself by using a secure streaming VPN such as Surfshark. The VPN offers the highest levels of privacy and security and is super-fast to facilitate HD streaming.
Below are some of the apps you can install:
Rapid Streamz
Rapid Streamz is a sports and live TV streaming app that provides access to 1,000+ channels. The app has a sports section on the main menu that lists 10+ sports and competitions, and below these are live TV categories. Each of the categories provides tens of free channels.
Live NetTV
As the name suggests, Live NetTV is a live TV streaming app. The app provides 800+ live TV channels sourced from around the world, all for free free. The channels are organized into various genres and regions to make selection easy. Live NetTV comes with a mobile and Firestick version of the app, with the latter being ad-free.
TVMob Pro
TVMob Pro is another super live TV streaming app, known for its fantastic intuitive user interface. The app organizes channels on the main interface, listing them alphabetically with denotations of the country a channel is sourced from. These channels can still be grouped into various genres using options on the side menu, making access easy. The app provides multiple features and functionalities that greatly improve user experience.
These apps are not available on the Amazon store, but you can install them using the guides below.
- How to Install Rapid Streamz on Firestick
- How to Install Live NetTV on Firestick
- How to Install TVMob Pro on Firestick
FAQ about Local Channels on Firestick
How to watch local channels on Firestick?
You can watch local channels on Firestick through several methods, including using an antenna with HDHomeRun or a web media player, using the free news app on Firestick, and paying for an OTT streaming service such as Sling TV.
How do I watch free local channels on Fire Stick?
To watch free local channels on Firestick, you can use the pre-installed news app on Firestick. Alternatively, you can install a free live TV streaming app like NewsON, XumoTV, Pluto TV, or STIRR. There are also lots of free streaming apks, but these require using a reliable VPN for safety.
What channels are free on a jailbroken Firestick?
You can get many free channels on a jailbroken Firestick, although the jailbreak won’t have an influence here. These include all major news networks such channels such as ABC News, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, CBS News, NBC News, and PBS NewsHour.
Does Firestick have local channels?
Firestick comes pre-installed with a local news app known simply as News. This app is available to users in the US, but you can also access it by changing your Firestick location and using a VPN such as Surfshark.
Wrap Up
Cutting the cord does not mean giving up local TV, as there are plenty of ways to stream local channels on Firestick. The guide above lists five different methods, four being free. Check them out and enjoy streaming live TV with flexibility.
Enjoy!
