The Best Live Local TV Streaming Services

streaming services with local channels — Photo: Oleg Elkov/Getty

Streaming services offer an alternative to the traditional cable model; today, the best platforms don't just carry extensive on-demand content libraries but also live TV channels, including local programming. They allow you to stream on multiple devices simultaneously, record your favorite shows, and customize your monthly package for a more tailored viewing experience — all at a lower price than traditional cable providers.

Though switching over to a streamer may seem like a no-brainer, you might be hesitant if you're worried about losing your local channels. This guide breaks down which streaming services subscribers can count on to provide network affiliates, regional sports networks, and more great local offerings.

Local Streaming Services Guide

Best Access

Key Specs	DirecTV Stream	Fubo	Hulu + Live TV	YouTube TV
Base Price	$69.99/month	$79.99/month	$76.99/month	$72.99/month
Network Affiliates Offered	CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, PBS, and more	CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, and more	CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, and more	CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, PBS, and more
Free Trial?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Option to Record?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Best Overall: DirecTV Stream

Pros

All packages include local channels.
There are four plan options at four different price points.
DirecTV Stream offers the most regional sports networks of any streaming service.
An online quiz will help determine the best package for you.

Cons

Regional sports networks are not available in the base tier.
Two of the plans cost over $100 a month.

DirecTV Stream is the best streaming service for local channels because it has fewer ___location restrictions and more programming options than competitors. All four of its plans include affiliate stations, meaning you can wake up and fall asleep to your favorite news teams for under $70 a month. Each package also comes with Cloud DVR storage and unlimited concurrent streams at home.

The base Entertainment plan ($69.99/month) is the only one without regional sports networks (RSNs), but subscribers still get 75+ live TV channels and 40,000 on-demand titles. By upgrading to the Choice ($84.99), Ultimate ($114.99), or Premier ($159.99) plans, you'll gain access to RSNs in your area.

To see which local channels and RSNs will be included in your package, enter your zip code on DirecTV's website. Before committing to a full month, test out any of the four plans through the platform's free trial.

Base Price: $69.99/month | Total No. of Channels: 75+ | Free Trial? Yes | Option to Record? Yes

Fubo

Pros

There are more than 200 local markets.
Nearly every available market includes ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates.
Some regional offerings can be accessed through the TV Everywhere app.

Cons

There are a limited number of RSNs.

All four of Fubo's monthly plans — Pro ($79.99), Elite ($89.99), Ultimate ($99.99), and Latino ($32.99) — offer local programming, though the service's scope is not as far-reaching as DirecTV Stream. Still, there are a little over 200 markets in Fubo's orbit, many of which carry ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and Telemundo affiliates. Sports fans may have a harder time finding RSNs in their area.

Fubo's week-long free trial should help you decide whether the streamer has all of the content you want. If you feel like something is missing, check out the service's lengthy list of add-ons for more sports, news, and entertainment channels.

Base Price: $79.99/month | Total No. of Channels: 200+ | Free Trial? Yes | Option to Record? Yes

Hulu + Live TV

Pros

Customers can easily view their local channel lineup before creating an account.
Hulu's live TV bundle includes ESPN+ and Disney+.
They offer unlimited DVR storage.
There's an ad-free option for on-demand content.

Cons

Live TV channels are not included in Hulu's free trial.
There are an extremely limited number of RSNs.

Hulu's live TV plans start at $76.99 per month, and, like Fubo, a decent amount of markets are covered in the base package. If, for example, you live in Pocatello, Idaho, you'll have access to local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW, and Telemundo affiliates. You can check which channels are available in your area by typing in your zip code on the Hulu + Live TV homepage.

While its network affiliate offerings are similar to Fubo's, Hulu has fewer RSNs than its competitor due in large part to a contract dispute with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which runs Bally Sports Regional Networks (formerly known as Fox Sports Networks). The RSNs you'll find on Hulu are mainly operated by NBC Sports.

Base Price: $76.99/month | Total No. of Channels: 95+ | Free Trial? No | Option to Record? Yes

YouTube TV

Pros

Local coverage includes PBS affiliates.
They offer a free trial to test the service.
There's no cap on DVR space.

Cons

There are an extremely limited number of RSNs.

YouTube TV's local coverage is nearly identical to Hulu's, but in addition to CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, and Telemundo affiliates, YouTube offers local PBS and Univision stations. The platform's monthly subscription price is $72.99 but new customers can get a total of $30 off during their first three months, bringing the cost per month down to $62.99.

Unfortunately, YouTube TV is in a similar boat to Hulu when it comes to RSNs. The service no longer carries Bally Sports Regional Networks, so NBC Sports is the main source of local sports programming for YouTube TV. But the Base plan's inclusion of the NFL, NBA, and MLB networks may make up for its lack of RSNs.

Base Price: $72.99/month | Total No. of Channels: 100+ | Free Trial? Yes | Option to Record? Yes

Limited Access

Key Specs	Sling TV	Vidgo
Base Price	$40/month	$69.99/month
Network Affiliates Offered	Fox, NBC	Fox, ABC
Free Trial?	No	No
Option to Record?	Yes	Yes

Sling TV

Pros

Two of the three plans are under $50 a month.
There are more than 45 individual channel add-ons.
They offer several ongoing bundles, including an NFL package.

Cons

You must pair your Sling subscription with an HD antenna to get most local stations.
Without an HD antenna, Fox and NBC affiliates are only available in select markets.

Out of Sling TV's three plans, only two — Blue and Orange & Blue — offer a small number of local channels, which is why the service is listed under "limited access." In select markets, subscribers can get Fox and NBC affiliates, but you'll need to purchase an HD antenna to successfully stream ABC, CBS, CW, PBS, Telemundo, and Univision affiliates.

Another way to save is with one of the service's bundles. For instance, new customers can save $5 every month for up to six months when they get Sling Orange + NBA League Pass.

Base Price: $40/month | Total No. of Channels: 30+ | Free Trial? No | Option to Record? Yes

Vidgo

Pros

Vidgo has the ability to pause or rewind live TV.
You'll get access to additional content through the TV Everywhere feature.

Cons

Fox and ABC affiliates are only available in select markets.

Depending on your ___location, you may be able to stream ABC and Fox affiliates through Vidgo, but local coverage is not guaranteed. If you find that your area isn't in one of the available markets, you may be able to access your local station through the streamer's TV Everywhere tool, which allows you to log into various network apps with your Vidgo credentials. The feature is included in your package.

One category that Vidgo excels in is college sports. Most NCAA networks are included in the service's base plan, as is ESPNU and Stadium. You're also getting more than 110 channels for less than $70 a month, which is one of the better streaming deals out there.

Base Price: $69.99/month | Total No. of Channels: 110+ | Free Trial? No | Option to Record? Yes

Extremely Limited Access

Key Specs	Paramount+	Peacock
Base Price	$11.99/month	$5.99/month
Network Affiliates Offered	CBS	NBC
Free Trial?	No	No
Option to Record?	No	No

Paramount+

Pros

The premium plan costs $11.99 a month.

Cons

The only local offering is your CBS affiliate.
Local CBS stations are not included in the cheaper Essential plan ($5.99/month).

Given that Paramount+ is CBS' streaming service, it's not surprising that the platform only offers access to local CBS stations. It's important to note that in order to stream your CBS affiliate, you must sign up for Paramount+'s Premium plan, which costs $11.99 per month. The cheaper Essential package ($5.99/month) does not include local programming.

Base Price: $11.99/month | Total No. of Channels: Not disclosed | Free Trial? No | Option to Record? No

Peacock

Pros

This is the cheapest way to stream a local channel.
You'll get access to every Sunday Night Football game.

Cons

There is currently no DVR capability.

Peacock may be NBC's streaming service, but access to NBC affiliates is pretty restricted. Currently, the only markets that can stream local NBC stations through Peacock are Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and South Florida. But what the platform lacks in local content, it makes up for in live sporting events. Peacock is the exclusive streaming partner of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and simulcasts every football game that airs on NBC.

Base Price: $5.99/month | Total No. of Channels: 50+ | Free Trial? No | Option to Record? No

Our Verdict

After comparing live TV streaming services, it's clear why DirecTV Stream is the best one for local channels. All four of the platform's packages include local programming, which is rare, plus no streamer on this list has a better selection of regional sports networks (DirecTV even carries Bally Sports).

On top of that, subscriptions come with unlimited DVR storage and unlimited simultaneous streams for under $70 a month. And the fact that prospective customers can see the exact local channels they'll get by simply typing in their ZIP code is icing on the cake.

Comparing Streaming Services with Local Channels

Network	DirecTV Stream	Fubo	Hulu	Paramount+	Peacock	Sling TV	Vidgo	YouTube TV
ABC	✓	✓	✓	-	-	-	✓	✓
CBS	✓	✓	✓	✓	-	-	-	✓
The CW	-	✓	✓	-	-	-	-	-
Fox	✓	✓	✓	-	-	✓	✓	✓
PBS	✓	-	-	-	-	-	-	✓
NBC	✓	✓	✓	-	✓	✓	-	✓
Telemundo	✓	✓	✓	-	-	-	-	✓
Univision	✓	✓	-	-	-	-	-	✓

How We Picked the Best Live Local TV Streaming Services

To find the best streaming services with local channels, we reviewed nearly 45 platforms, looking at more than a dozen criteria. A service's local offerings were weighted most heavily, but we also considered its full list of features, including DVR capabilities and channel add-ons.

When researching a streamer, our team collected data on the number of affiliate networks available, the base price for a package with local and regional sports networks, and any ___location restrictions. Finally, we kept track of how many simultaneous streams each service allows and whether subscribers can try out the platform through a free trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fubo vs. YouTube TV: Which is better?

In terms of local programming, Fubo and YouTube TV offer many of the same affiliate networks. But they both provide one local channel that the other does not: Fubo has The CW while YouTube TV has PBS. This may make your decision between the two easier, but ultimately, you should explore each streaming service's entire content library before signing up for one. Luckily, they both give prospective subscribers a free trial.

Another difference between the two is their DVR capabilities. While YouTube provides unlimited DVR storage, your recordings will expire after nine months. Fubo caps your DVR space at 1,000 hours, but your recordings won't expire as long as your subscription is active.

Does Philo have local channels?

Given its price — $25 a month — the streaming service Philo remains a popular choice among value hunters. Though it comes with more than 70 channels, none of them are local. For the most part, the platform's lineup includes lifestyle and entertainment networks such as Hallmark, HGTV, Discovery, and Food Network.

Does ABC have a streaming service?

Unlike fellow broadcast networks NBC and CBS, ABC does not have its own streaming service. Though you can live stream content on ABC's app, you must log in with your cable provider. However, you can find ABC on DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Vidgo.