One of the reasons that Sling TV is cheaper than the competition is that it doesn’t include local broadcast channels like FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, and The CW in most of its service areas. But in this guide, we’ll show you how to watch local channels for free with Sling TV, and make the most of your money.
Why Doesn’t Sling TV Just Come With Local Channels?
It’s simple. Most of these channels are broadcast networks. That means that they’re available for free – whether or not you have a Sling TV subscription. If you have an HD antenna for your TV, you can hook it up, scan for channels, and watch local broadcast networks for free. That includes things like the NFL on FOX, CBS, and ABC, the NBC Finals on ABC, your local news stations and more – all for free!
This helps keep costs down. Traditional cable providers and other internet TV services like Hulu With Live TV or fuboTV have to pay a fee to include broadcast channels in their cable package. Sling TV skips these costs, and passes the savings onto their customers.
But that’s enough explanation. How do you actually get local channels for free with Sling TV? In the following guide, we’ll take you through the process, step-by-step.
1. See If Local FOX, NBC Coverage Is Included In Your Area
First, you may want to check if Sling provides FOX or NBC coverage in your area. While they don’t carry most local channels, they do have FOX and NBC in some markets with the $35/month Sling Blue subscription You can get local FOX channels in:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Chicago
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Detroit
- Gainesville
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis/St. Paul
- New York
- Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa/St. Petersburg
- Washington, DC
You can also get local NBC channels in the following areas:
- Chicago
- Boston
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale
- Hartford/New Haven
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
- Washington, DC
- San Diego
You can still get these channels with an OTA HD antenna, but if you live in these areas, you can also access these NBC and FOX local channels with Sling TV, which is a nice feature.
2. Check What Local Channels You Can Get With An HD Antenna
The next step should be to check what local channels are available in your area. Antennaweb is a great resource for this. With this service, you can enter your geographic location and then get a list of all the channels you’ll receive.
It’s important to note that the range you can receive channels will vary depending on the type of antenna you buy, where it’s mounted, your geographic location, and some other factors. But Antennaweb is still a very useful tool for getting an idea of the channels you can get.
One type of channels you won’t find are RSNs, or “Regional Sports Networks,” like local Fox Sports, Bally Sports, and NBC sports channels. That’s because these are cable-only channels. You can’t watch them with an OTA antenna. Currently, the only RSNs available on Sling TV are:
- NBC Sports Bay Area
- NBC Sports California
- NBC Sports Washington
3. Buy An HD Antenna And Hook It Up To Your TV
Your next step is to buy an HD antenna. There are literally thousands of models out there, so we recommend heading to Amazon or your other favorite retailer and doing a little bit of research on the top models. But to make things simpler, antennas come in two major types:
Indoor antennas
Indoor antennas usually look kind of like a mousepad or a placemat, though there are a few different varieties. They usually cost somewhere between $20 and $40. You simply plug your antenna into the coaxial port on your TV, then mount or place it near your TV, in the area recommended by the manufacturer. Then, you can start watching local channels for free with Sling TV right away!
Outdoor antennas
Indoor antennas are usually good enough for people in cities, or for people who are pretty close to broadcast towers. But if you live in a more rural area or you want to pick up broadcasts from further away, an outdoor antenna is a good investment. These are a little more expensive, and usually cost between $40 and $100, depending on the model.
This type of antenna should be mounted outside, usually on a roof, and they work the best when they’re at least 30 feet above the ground. Most top models come with special design features which allow you to mount them without using any special tools. Once you mount the antenna, you run a coaxial cable inside and attach it to your TV, just like you would with an indoor antenna.
4. Scan For Channels, Find Your Favorites, And Enjoy
Once you’ve connected your new antenna, you’ll need to “scan” for channels. This process will use your antenna to pick up broadcast signals. Then, your TV will save these channels so that you can browse and watch them whenever you want.
The exact process will vary depending on your TV. But here’s a general overview of what it will look like:
- Open up the menu on your TV by using the menu button
- Find the channel scan feature. This may also be labeled scan, rescan, auto-scan, or auto-tune
- Select this feature and run the channel scan. This will usually take about 10 minutes as your TV and antenna scan through all the available broadcast frequencies
- Once you’re done scanning, you’ll get a list of the channels you can watch, and you can start watching local channels for free right away
All modern TVs have a channel scan option, so if you can’t find it, you should consult your user’s manual. If you’ve lost the manual, find the serial number or model number of your TV. With some Googling, you should be able to find the manual online.
(Optional) Buy An AirTV Device For Sling TV Integration
If you buy an AirTV device, you can watch Local Channels for free with Sling TV, directly within their app. If you want to stream all of your TV in one place, this is a good option. With an AirTV device, you can watch all your favorite shows, news, and sporting events in one place.
However, this is not necessary to watch your new channels. Once you’ve connected your antenna and scanned for channels, you can watch them using just your TV – there’s no need to buy another device. In fact, some smart TVs integrate broadcast channels directly into their homepage menus, which makes it just as easy to watch your favorite local channels. But if you like the sound of buying an AirTV device, you can visit their website here to browse their latest models and find the streaming device that’s right for you.
