We often hear this question a lot from Roku users, especially those who have ditched traditional cable. The good news is that getting local news and weather on your streaming setup is easier than ever! In this guide, we’ll show you how to:
- Watch free local news on The Roku Channel.
- Access live local news, sports, and weather coverage.
- Tune in to local radio stations.
- Get local channels for free using an antenna.
1. watch local news for free on The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel provides access to more than 60 local news stations covering major cities, including FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC affiliates. It even features a dedicated “Local News Near You” section in the Live TV Zone, followed by national news.
To locate your local news channels, turn on your Roku device and either:
- Choose the Live TV option from the Home Screen Menu.
- Open the Live TV tile on your Roku TV home screen and click the left arrow button.
- Open The Roku Channel, click the left arrow button to access the left-hand navigation menu, scroll down, and select Live TV.
2. watch live and local news and sports on Roku devices
In addition to watching free local news on The Roku Channel, your Roku device provides several local news options in the Streaming Store.
Channels like NewsON and Haystack News are great choices for streaming live and local news. With these channels, just enter your city or zip code to get news, weather, and traffic from your local anchors.
What’s neat about these channels is that you can switch to different locations around the country. So, if you’re away from home and miss your local news, these channels are perfect for you.
Make sure to explore the News & Weather category in the Roku Streaming Store for more ways to watch local channels. Nowadays, there are over 100 free local news channels, including KHOU Houston, FOX25 Boston, and WSB Atlanta.
For regional sports networks, consider trying a Live TV service. Services like fuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, or Sling TV, available through a monthly subscription, provide access to various local channels and regional sports networks across the country.
Additionally, check out the Sports experience on your Home Screen Menu. It’s designed to make it easy to stream your favorite sports, all in one place. Explore it to find live or upcoming local sports games in your area.
3. Watch live and local weather channels on Roku devices
While the previously mentioned channels cover local weather, let’s focus on some channels that are essential for any avid weather enthusiast: WeatherNation, The Weather Network, and The Weather Channel. All these channels let you enter your location for personalized coverage. Whether you need a fast local forecast or want to stay updated on breaking weather stories nationwide, these channels will keep you well-informed.
And, to top it off, both FOX Weather and WeatherNation provide 24/7 live feeds for free on The Roku Channel.
4. Listen to local radio stations
If you’re missing your hometown DJs, you’re in luck! The Roku platform offers several channels that bring radio streams directly to your living room. Examples include iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Radio.com. Each of these channels provides access to local radio stations, popular podcasts, news, sports talk, and more. You can even tune in to out-of-town stations by selecting different locations.
If none of the thousands of radio stations on these channels suits your taste, explore the Music and Podcasts section in the Roku channel store. Alternatively, you can check out our carefully curated list of music channels on the Roku platform.
5. How to watch local channels for free with an antenna on Roku TVs
Hey Roku users, did you know it’s super easy to watch broadcast TV for free? Yup, just grab yourself an HDTV antenna! Here’s a quick guide:
- Connect the HDTV antenna to your Roku TV.
- Follow the simple on-screen steps to scan for local channels.
- Start enjoying your local stations without spending a dime! It’s that easy.
And don’t worry if you haven’t used an antenna in a while. Modern HDTV antennas are nothing like the old bunny ears. They’re smaller, affordable, and can let you watch local broadcasts from up to 100 miles away, depending on the antenna. Keep in mind, the number of stations might vary depending on where you live.
With Roku TV’s Live TV and HD antenna features, you can ditch expensive contracts without sacrificing cable-like features. Features such as local network integration into the Live TV Channel Guide, the ability to search both live and streaming channels, or even pausing live TV when you connect a compatible USB drive to your TV make Roku TVs a perfect choice for a complete cord-cutting setup. For more detailed info, check out our Roku TV antenna page. Happy watching!