How to Watch Local Channels on Chromecast

By Stephen Lovely | Last modified: January 12, 2023

Google’s Chromecast devices are awesome tools for streaming video on your favorite TV. We already know you can watch a lot of good stuff without cable on Chromecast, including on-demand content and live network television. But do you know how to watch local TV on Chromecast?

	Price	Channels	Free Trial
#1	$5.99 – $85.96	68 – 88	7 or 30 days	See Offer

#2	$64.99 – $79.99	220+	7 days	See Offer

#3	$35 – $50	30+ – 130+	3 days	See Offer

#4	$4.99 – $99.99	N/A	7 days	See Offer

If not, don’t worry — this guide will explain everything. We’ll cover the best ways to use Chromecast to access local news, local sports, and other local broadcasting you can’t live without.

How to Watch Local Channels on Chromecast Online Without Cable

The biggest breakthrough for cord-cutting local-TV fans since free over-the-air TV is the live TV streaming service. Also called “skinny bundles,” these services set out to beat cable at its own game. They offer bundles of live TV channels just like cable and satellite, but they have some key differences.

Skinny bundles are “skinny” — at least sometimes they are. The “skinny” bit means skinny bundles tend to offer slimmer channel packages than their cable counterparts, trimming the fat so they can also trim the price. It should be noted, though, that some live TV streaming services offer larger bundles too.

The real difference between skinny bundles and legacy pay TV services (i.e., cable and satellite) is that skinny bundles stream over the internet. That means skinny bundles work on a ton of streaming devices, including your Chromecast.

Skinny bundles have begun to offer local and regional channels, so they make a great solution to the problem of how to watch local channels on Chromecast. Many skinny bundles offer some or all of the four major networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC — with live feeds of their local affiliates in select markets. That means local news, NFL games, and more.

Below, we’ll cover the skinny bundles that will help you watch live local TV on Chromecast. We’ll also run through some other options, including free over-the-air (OTA) TV.

Stream local channels on Chromecast for free with Hulu

Free Trial

Hulu + Live TV is the skinny-bundle service from Hulu, which is already a veteran of the on-demand streaming world. Hulu’s live TV bundle offers plenty of great channels, including live local feeds of the four major networks in select markets. Want to know more? Head over to our Hulu + Live TV review.

Stream local channels on Chromecast for free with fuboTV

Free Trial

Like many of its competitors, fuboTV offers live local feeds of major-network affiliates in select markets. fuboTV offers a free trial, which means you can test-drive the service for seven days before you have to pony up any dough.

Stream local channels on Chromecast for free with Sling TV

See Offer

Did you know Sling TV now has local channels? It offers NBC and FOX in a few markets, including Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth. Since Sling TV also works with Chromecast, it’s another reliable option for watching local channels on Chromecast.

Stream local channels on Chromecast for free with Paramount Plus

See Offer

Paramount Plus debuted in early 2021 with the tagline, “a mountain of entertainment.” It turns out you can use Chromecast as a ski lift up that mountain. (We’ll work on that metaphor later.) The point is, Paramount Plus offers a livestream of CBS in some markets. You can read our Paramount Plus review for a straightforward opinion of one of the newest stand-alone streaming services.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is Google’s entry in the skinny-bundle melee — and it’s a worthy contender. It boasts plenty of great features: an easy-to-use app, great content discovery, and, of course, access to local channels in select markets. You can check out YouTube TV for free by clicking on the link in this section and signing up for the service’s free trial.

Free Over-the-Air TV

If you’re a regular reader of CordCutting.com, then you know we’re big fans of free over-the-air TV. Thanks to local broadcast networks, you can pick up local stations with an antenna — no cable required. If you plug an antenna into your TV, then you don’t need Chromecast to watch local TV broadcasts, right?

That’s right! But that doesn’t mean Chromecast can’t be involved if you want to get more out of your OTA TV experience. You can use Chromecast with Android devices and the Tablo app to watch live and recorded OTA TV through your Tablo DVR (sold separately). Another great OTA DVR solution is Plex, the popular media server application that offers OTA DVR support on some platforms.

Watch Local Channels on Every Type of Device

Our series on how to watch local channels without cable includes more than just this article!

16 thoughts on “How to Watch Local Channels on Chromecast”

Great article. Thank you for the feedback on all The local channels I did not see sling TV. Does it not get local channels?

Stephen Lovely says:

February 18, 2020 at 8:48 pm

Thanks for reading! Sling TV used to carry local networks in a lot of markets, but it has really rolled back support for those. Right now, Sling TV pushes a combination of its service and an over-the-air antenna to customers hoping to get local channels. It’s possible that Sling TV will cut some new deals and start streaming local networks again, but, for now, it’s off our list.

Reply
Lori Lea says:

August 20, 2020 at 6:58 pm

My question disappeared.
Local channels meaning other than CBS, NBC but includes Travel, ID
And such as Direct minus the pay channels of course.
Like crime shows – “CRIMINAL MINDS” (ID ch), or “THE DEAD FILES” (travel ch)
Are those channels considered LOCAL?
QUESTION #2
Is HULU a good choice for those I’m asking about.
If no one knows, I suppose I’ll just go for it and hope for the best.

Anyone out there?

Lori K.

Reply

Thanks again for all the help.

I keep forgetting to save my password. Sorry for another post.

Do I need an antenna for you tube live tv

Stephen Lovely says:

May 4, 2020 at 6:16 pm

Nope, you’ll just need an internet connection and a YouTube TV subscription (or free trial).

Reply

When I read Chromecast offers local channels, does local cover other channels as in – Travel ch, ID, etc.?

Stephen Lovely says:

August 24, 2020 at 7:22 pm

This post focuses on local channels, but you can watch those other channels on Chromecast, too!

Just keep in mind that Chromecast is only the device, not the service. A Chromecast can take a video you’re playing on your phone or computer and put it up on your TV screen for you, but the video itself has to be coming from some service. It’s a little bit like how your DVD player lets you watch DVDs, but doesn’t come with DVDs — you still need to go get some, or else there’s nothing to watch! So the Chromecast can make it easy to watch Netflix or another streaming service, but it doesn’t *include* any streaming services.

Here are some services we recommend for live TV channels like Travel Channel and Investigation Discovery: https://cordcutting.com/services/best/#Best_for_Live_TV

Hope this helps. Thanks for reading!

Reply

When I read Chromecast offers local channels, does local cover other channels as in – Travel ch, ID, etc.?

My answer is saying “looks like I’ve already said that”. I have asked SIRI which brought me to this page. Maybe a stupid stick hit me but I still don’t know weather to click on HULU or the others offered. I’m trying to get ID and Travel off the phone and watch it on the big screen.
Holding the phone in hand for a show is not for me.
Anyone know my lengthy question?
Otherwise I’ll click on HULU and hope for the best- I guess

Lori

Stephen Lovely says:

August 24, 2020 at 7:24 pm

Hi Lori, I think I responded to you on another comment. Hulu is a good way to get local channels *and* lots of other networks, so that should be a good fit for you. Just remember that it’s Hulu that’s offering the channels, and Chromecast is just how you’re accessing the service. The services we listed here are our favorite ones that A) include local networks and B) work well on Chromecast. Thanks for reading!

Reply

I have Xfinity for my wifi and the package includes streaming of local channels. But the Android TV box I bought says I must turn off mirroring to get Xfinity TV stations. I don’t know what that means and there’s no setting for mirroring. If I switch to Chrome astray, will it solve the issue?

This is the first time I have seen this address and was directed to it from goggle. This seems to be an excellent service you provide.
ChiefEngineer52

Can you install the Locast App on a Chromecast device?

Sling does NOT support local broadcast television. ie. Local news. You can see world or national news. but there is no support for local TV STATIONS.
Basic cable is not local television.

I just added Sling’s “AirTV 2” device to my network. (It’s my second attempt, the first device had to be returned — it wouldn’t initialize.)

The idea was to DVR over-the-air channels, and cast them from my phone’s Sling app to the Chromecast device on my TV.

Surprise! “Casting over the air content is currently unavailable. Please use your Sling TV account to enjoy this program on your smartphone, tablet, or other streaming device. — OK”

Not OK!!

How to Watch Local Channels on Chromecast Online Without Cable

YouTube TV

Free Over-the-Air TV

Watch Local Channels on Every Type of Device

16 thoughts on “How to Watch Local Channels on Chromecast”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply