What Are the Top Streaming Services for Local Channels?

Cord-cutting is not really a foreign concept anymore. A lot of people are familiar with the term and that is because of how common the practice has become across U.S. households. Ever since the rise of streaming services, people have been cutting cable and shifting to more accessible alternatives like streaming. According to a study by Zippia, by 2025 the number of cable TV subscribers is expected to fall to 56 million, which is 15 million less subscribers than there were in 2020. Additionally, it is predicted that the streaming service industry revenue is expected to reach $252 billion in 2025, which is nearly double the $171 billion in 2021.

However, while it is very easy for people to find movies and TV shows on streaming platforms, it doesn’t erase the fact that people would still love to watch live TV sports and the latest news. This is why people still fondly subscribe to cable TV in the first place. However, some households may get into a bit of dilemma if good cable TV packages in their area are unavailable. Well, in that case, we come bearing good news! While major TV networks like ABC, CBS, and others, do not have permission to own local stations in many markets, they can work together with affiliate stations to broadcast their content. Thus, once you sign up with the right streaming service, you can get these channels at a better rate!

Let’s take a look at the best TV streaming services with local channels.

Top 5 Streaming Services for Cable TV Channels

Not all streaming services offer local TV channels and this is why your options are limited if you want to access local channels instead of just movies and TV shows. YouTube TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV via Internet are such streaming services that do offer local TV channels, but not all of them. Here we have rounded up the list of best streaming services and the local channels they offer. However, keep in mind that channel availability does vary across areas for every video service, be it cable or streaming.

Now that you’ve had a bird’s-eye view of streaming services and the available local channels, let’s look into more details of these platforms below, so you can make a more informed decision!

fuboTV

If you want access to local channels and you also want some additional sports channels with that, fuboTV is the best option for you. If you’re a sports lover, fuboTV is the only streaming service you should consider. You get to enjoy live sports and other content along with on-demand content as well. To find out whether a favorite channel of yours is available in your area, you can search by name and ZIP code too.

fuboTV offers 4 plans: Pro, Elite, Premier, and Latino. The Pro plan includes around 155 live channels and 100+ sporting events, and is priced at $74.99 per month; this also happens to be their cheapest plan. The Elite plan offers around 216 channels, which include 130+ events in 4K, fubo Extra, and News Plus, and it is priced at $84.99 per month. The Premier plan comes with 225 channels and includes 130+ sporting events in 4K and premium channels like SHOWTIME; this plan is priced at $94.99 per month and is the most expensive plan offered by fuboTV. The last plan, Latino, has been created for Spanish-speaking people. It comes with 48 channels with 100+ sports events and costs $32.99 per month ($24.99/mo. for the first month only).

Keep in mind that each plan has additional benefits along with terms and conditions. Before you make the purchase, you should be clear on what you are getting and for how much. When it comes to compatible devices, you can stream content on fuboTV with your Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox, Samsung TV, and more.

DIRECTV via Internet

DIRECTV via Internet offers a wide variety of on-demand and live content, which also includes local and national channels and most local MLB games. To take a look at the comprehensive list of channels available on DIRECTV via Internet, you can check out their channel lineup. If you want to search by ZIP code to know which channels will be available to you depending on your area, then simply click the “Regional sports & local” tab and enter your ZIP code. In the results, you will be able to see the local channels and the regional channels as well.

DIRECTV via Internet offers four plans: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. The cheapest plan, Entertainment, costs $74.99 per month plus tax. You get to enjoy a little over 75 channels with this plan and it has all the must-have sports, news, and entertainment channels. Whereas the Premier plan is the most expensive plan and it costs $154.99 per month plus tax. With this premium plan, you get to enjoy more than 150 live TV channels along with premium channels like HBO Max, SHOWTIME, Cinemax, and Starz! Prices and conditions of the plans are subject to change at any time, hence, you should always check before finalizing the purchase.

Plus, DIRECTV via Internet comes with unlimited DVR storage, and the regional sports networks are included at no extra cost in the Choice and above packages. One more advantage to getting DIRECTV via Internet is that you can download the DIRECTV app on smartphones and tablets allowing you to stream anywhere anytime and on unlimited devices! You can even download it on TV streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, Apple TV, and more. Subscribing to a DIRECTV STREAM plan is easy, just call 855-737-0235.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is the perfect blend of on-demand and live content from local channels that you can stream at any time. Just like with DIRECTV via Internet, you can look into the channel lineup for Hulu + Live TV by entering your ZIP code. Once you press Enter, you will get a list of channels and they will be grouped category-wise like Love Local Channels, Entertainment & Lifestyle Channels, News Channels, etc.

Hulu offers two different plans for Live TV, one with ads and one without ads. The cheaper option or the one with ads costs $69.99 per month. With this plan, you will have access to Disney+ and ESPN+ (with ads) along with 85+ live and on-demand TV channels. The second plan costs $82.99 per month and is free of any ads. Additionally, you will be getting access to the Disney+ channel (also without ads) and ESPN+ (with ads). Keep in mind that these plans and even access to certain channels come with their own terms and conditions. Hence, you need to confirm what those terms and conditions are before signing up.

Aside from everything that you are getting with the plan, you can pay additional for premium channels like HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and more. You can also add Live TV add-ons to your plan, such as Entertainment Add-on, Sports Add-on, and Español Add-on.

Lastly, you can download and stream Hulu + Live TV on two screens simultaneously (you can add unlimited screens to your plan), which could be your iPhone, iPad, Roku, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, and more. Some devices might not be compatible, such as for Nintendo Switch, Hulu + Live TV is compatible with R1 and Lite models, but not other models or versions. So, at the time of purchase, you will have to make sure whether your device supports Hulu + Live TV or not.

Sling TV

If you are looking for an affordable option for streaming services, then Sling TV is what you need. Sling TV offers limited channels but it makes for great overall entertainment. To learn about its channel lineup and what might or might not be available in your area, you can check out the channel availability by entering your ZIP code.

Sling TV offers 3 plans: Orange, Blue, and Orange & Blue. The pricing for all of these plans differs according to your area Zip Code. The plans are, however, the same and so, we will outline some details. The Orange plan offers 31 channels, the Blue plan comes with 42 channels, and the Orange & Blue plan comes with 48 channels. All plans offer 50 hours of DVR storage. Moreover, you can add as many add-ons as you like and customize every bit of your Sling TV subscription.

Sling TV is compatible with devices like Google TV Nest Hub, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo Stream 4K, Vizio smart TV, and plenty more.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is just one of YouTube’s subscription services and has quickly become popular despite its newness. With YouTube TV, you get access to local channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and more. It is a great option for getting live and on-demand content. To find out which channels are available in your area, you can use your ZIP code and get a list of the channels according to their categories.

YouTube TV comes with two plans: Base Plan and Spanish Plan. The Base Plan at this time costs $64.99 per month, but you get $10 off for the first 3 months and the plan will cost $54.99/mo. for that duration. This plan includes 100+ live channels and unlimited DVR space. There are some additional features and terms that you need to confirm in the fine print before the purchase.

Currently, the Spanish Plan costs $34.99 per month and you get a $10 discount on this as well for the first 6 months. Thus, the price will then be reduced to $24.99 per month for 6 months. This plan is perfect for Spanish-speaking people since they get the best YouTube TV features with their favorite 30+ Spanish networks and unlimited DVR storage.

YouTube TV is compatible with many devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. Aside from these, there are plenty of other compatible devices like Chromecast devices. You can even download the app and stream content on devices like Android TVs, Apple TVs, Xbox, Roku, Xfinity Flex devices, and more. Be sure to confirm if your device is compatible with YouTube TV at the time of purchase.

The Final Word

This brings us to the end of our article. We have talked about 5 streaming services in total and each one of them comes with its own perks. If you are looking for the cheapest streaming service with local channels, Sling TV is your best bet. If you are a hardcore sports lover, fuboTV is the best option for you. If you want an all-in-one platform, then DIRECTV via Internet is the one. So, you just have to see which streaming services fit which of your needs and then choose one according to that. And that is it from our side!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the cheapest streaming service with local channels?

Sling TV is the cheapest streaming service that offers live and on-demand content. Sling TV plan prices are different across locations. It offers 3 different plans and is compatible with most devices like Roku, Samsung smart TV, etc.

Does YouTube TV have local channels?

YouTube TV offers local channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and Univision. If you want to learn more about the channels it offers, you can check out the channel lineup on its official page.

What are the top streaming services for local channels?

fuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV via Internet are some of the best streaming services in the market. Depending on your area, the price you want, and the number of channels, you can choose one of these 5 services.