Do you have a brand-new Firestick and want to watch local TV on it? The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a magnificent piece of technology that allows you to watch your favorite shows and films on your TV without paying for cable.
You might be able to fix this by adding regional channels to your device or connecting your streaming services to a Live TV add-on. Apps for the Fire Stick let you watch more than a hundred channels for free, but you need a membership to watch premium shows.
Learn how to install local TV apps on your Fire Stick and get some suggestion about free local tv apps for firestick user by reading this post.
Can I Get Local Channels on Fire Stick?
Local programs are great contents that you can get with a standard antenna or cheap cable subscription. Large TV networks like CBC, NBC, ABC, PBS and FOX often make this kind of content.
Local stations can start airing more things, like reruns of old TV shows and other similar things. If you have a FireTV Stick, the cheapest option is to use apps that connect to a TV provider’s streaming service.
Streaming services are more expensive than the average cable or satellite package, but they are also different. Applying applications that focus on the network is a close second. The problem is that viewers need a TV subscription, either through a traditional bundle (basic cable, etc.) or a separate streaming service, to watch all of a network’s content.
10 Best Free Local TV Apps for Firestick
We’ve put together a list of the best free apps for your FireTV Stick to save you money after you drop your cable service.
1. Pluto TV
Pluto TV app is a free local app for Firestick users which is owned and operated by Paramount Pictures. It’s the best way to watch live videos online without spending money. It offers a lot of channels for free.
This simple program gives you access to more than 250 live channels, but most of them are only for one type of TV show or genre. It is popular in the US for on-demand content.
But, it is less known outside of the United States. Pluto TV is also available on multiple devices including Fire TV, LG Smart TV, Roku devices, and many more. There are plenty of live channels on Pluto TV, including MTV, BET, and Channel 5.
Most channels are based on TV shows such as Hutch channel, Starsky, one for Mad Men, etc. Pluto TV app offers a few benefits to users that include-
Pluto TV Local Channel Lineup
| Channel Name | Channel Number | Channel Name | Channel Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Election 20 | 223 | Today’s Top Stor | 225 |
| Pluto News | 227 | NBC News | 232 |
| NBC News Now | 233 | CBSN | 236 |
| CBSN New York | 237 | CBSN Los Angeles | 238 |
| CNN | 244 | America’s Voice | 247 |
| The First | 248 | OAN Encore | 249 |
| Blaze Live | 250 | Today | 253 |
| WeatherNation | 258 | Bloomberg Television | 262 |
| Cheddar News | 266 | Top Stories by Newsy | 268 |
| NewsmaxTV | 270 | TYT Network | 272 |
| Sky News | 277 | RT America | 279 |
| Court TV | 287 | CBS News Bay Area | 1021 |
| CBS News Boston | 1022 | CBS News Chicago | 1023 |
| CBS News DFW | 1024 | CBS News Colorado | 1025 |
| CBS News Los Angeles | 1026 | CBS News Miami | 1027 |
| CBS News Minnesota | 1028 | CBS News New York | 1029 |
| CBS News Philly | 1030 | CBS News Pittsburgh | 1031 |
| CBS News Sacramento | 1032 | CBS News Baltimore | 1033 |
Learn More: 16 Top LG Smart TV Apps for Adults
2. Tubi TV
Tubi TV is a legally free TV app with an ad-supported streaming service. As per the report, Tubi TV offers 47,000+ shows and movies and 200 Live TV channels for free. A pretty deal comes from Tubi.
In 2020 Fox bought Tubi for $440 million, now it has 64 million active users as per the 2022 report. It’s one of the fast-growing TV apps that offers tons of fresh and on-demand content.
Tubi still failed to produce its own content, but it delivered fresh content from other resources. No matter, whether you have a Tubi account or not. Tubi lets you watch free content, but with an account, you can create a watchlist, get recommendations, or use parental control features.
Tubi TV Local Channel Lineup
| Channel Name | Station Call Letters | Channel Name | Station Call Letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox 5 New York | WNYW | Fox 32 Chicago | WFLD |
| Fox 29 Philadelphia | WTXF | Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth | KDFW |
| ABC 8 Dallas-Fort Worth | WFAA | Fox 11 Los Angeles | KTTV |
| Fox 2 San Francisco | KTVU | Fox 5 Atlanta | WAGA |
| NBC 11 Atlanta | WXIA | ABC 2 Atlanta | WSB |
| Fox 26 Houston | KRIV | CBS 11 Houston | KHOU |
| CBS 9 Washington DC | WUSA | Fox 5 Washington DC | WTTG |
| ABC 7 Manchester | WMUR | Fox 25 Boston | WFXT |
| ABC 5 Boston | WCVB | Fox 10 Phoenix | KSAZ |
| ABC 15 Phoenix | KNXV | NBC 12 Phoenix | KPNX |
| Fox 13 Seattle | KCPQ | NBC 5 Seattle | KING |
| CBS 7 Seattle | KIRO | Fox 13 Tampa | WTVT |
| ABC 39 Tampa | WFTS | Channel 32 Tampa | WMOR |
| Fox 9 Minneapolis | KMSP | NBC 11 Minneapolis | KARE |
| Fox 2 Detroit | WJBK | ABC 7 Detroit | WXYZ |
3. The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a VOD (Video On Demand) streaming device owned and operated by Roku, Inc. It’s Roku’s own streaming app that delivers unique content to free and paid users. The Roku Channel offers more than 60 local TV news in most metropolitan areas.
It includes CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC, etc. You may find this content for free but the latest episodes require a paid subscription. We saw The Roku Channel first in 2017, then it has been updated with time and comes with expanded video content. The basic tier of The Roku Channel is free to use.
That means all content delivered by Roku is free to view. However, some content is paid, and only paid users can view it. It offers free, live, and premium TV options. A wide section of Movies, TV shows, 24/7 live news, and sports are available here.
You don’t need to purchase a Roku device to watch The Roku Channel. So, start watching your favorite movies and shows on this app.
The Roku Channel Local Channel Lineup
| Channel Name | Station Call Letters | Channel Number |
|---|---|---|
| NBC 4 New York | WNBC | 4100 |
| NBC 4 Los Angeles | KNBC | 4107 |
| NBC 5 Chicago | WMAQ | 4114 |
| NBC 10 Philadelphia | WCAU | 4117 |
| NBC 5 Dallas Fort Worth | KXAS | 4121 |
| NBC 11 San Francisco | KNTV | 4125 |
| CBS 46 Atlanta | WANF | 4131 |
| ABC 2 Atlanta | WSB | 4133 |
| NBC 4 Washington DC | WRC | 4141 |
| Fox 25 Boston | WFXT | 4147 |
| NBC 10 Boston | WBTS | 4149 |
| Channel 3 Phoenix | KTVK | 4151 |
| CBS 7 Seattle | KIRO | 4158 |
| ABC 7 Sarasota | WWSB | 4162 |
| ABC 9 Orlando | WFTV | 4180 |
4. Xumo Play
Xumo Play is a free streaming app that offers 190+ channels such as local news, national news, live events, viral videos, TV series, movies, cartoons, and many more. They also feature on-demand content from other channels and allow users to explore tons of content.
Xumo Play is available on Smart TV, Roku devices, Chromecast, and Fire TV. Even smartphone, tablet, android, and iOS users can also watch content on Xumo Play. It offers free live TV that covers a wide range of content from different genres.
Xumo not only shares TV series and movies, it also has a great lineup for local channels. Here’s a breakdown for you.
Xumo Local Channel Lineup
| Channel Name | Channel Number | Station Call Letters |
|---|---|---|
| ABC 2 Atlanta WSB | 9 | WSB |
| ABC 9 Charlotte WSOC | 10 | WSOC |
| ABC 9 Orlando WFTV | 11 | WFTV |
| Fox 25 Boston WFXT | 12 | WFXT |
| CBS 7 Dayton WHIO | 13 | WHIO |
| CBS 47 Jacksonville WJAX | 14 | WJAX |
| CBS 7 Seattle KIRO | 15 | KIRO |
| NBC 11 San Francisco KNTV | 16 | KNTV |
| NBC 4 New York WNBC | 17 | WNBC |
| NBC 4 Los Angeles KNBC | 18 | KNBC |
| NBC 5 Chicago WMAQ | 19 | WMAQ |
| NBC 10 Philadelphia WCAU | 20 | WCAU |
| NBC 6 Miami WTVJ | 21 | WTVJ |
| NBC 10 Boston WBTS | 22 | WBTS |
| ABC 7 New York WABC | 23 | WABC |
| ABC 7 Los Angeles KABC | 24 | KABC |
5. STIRR
STIRR is a new free TV and an American ad-supported free streaming service. It is available in the web version and via mobile apps for iOS, Android, and other streaming devices including Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Android TV.
It allows you to access local channels for entertainment purposes. STIRR offers general entertainment and different genre channels. It also draws programs from local Sinclair TV stations with local content. Now, STIRR is available in almost 50 states.
Top-rated channels on STIRR include streaming apps such as Buzzr, FilmRise, Cheddar, Law & Crime, Newsy, Comet, etc. Now, STIRR is available on web and mobile apps for Android, iOS, and streaming devices including Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
STIRR Local Channel Lineup
| Channel Name | Station Call Letters | Channel Name | Station Call Letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBC 13 Birmingham | WVTM | ABC 33 Birmingham | WBMA |
| Fox 54 Huntsville | WZDX | NBC 15 Mobile | WPMI |
| NBC 12 Phoenix | KPNX | ABC 15 Phoenix | KNXV |
| ABC 9 Tucson | KGUN | ABC 40 Fort Smith | KHBS |
| CBS 5 Fort Smith | KFSM | ABC 7 Little Rock | KATV |
| CBS 11 Little Rock | KTHV | CBS 33 Bakersfield | KBAK |
| Fox 58 Bakersfield | KBFX | ABC 23 Bakersfield | KERO |
| Fox 26 Fresno | KMPH | NBC 8 Monterey | KSBW |
| ABC 7 Redding | KRCR | NBC 3 Sacramento | KCRA |
| ABC 10 Sacramento | KXTV | Channel 51 San Diego | KUSI |
| CBS 8 San Diego | KFMB | ABC 10 San Diego | KGTV |
| NBC 9 Denver | KUSA | ABC 7 Denver | KMGH |
| ABC 36 Lexington | WTVQ | NBC 18 Lexington | WLEX |
| CBS 32 Louisville | WLKY | ABC 11 Louisville | WHAS |
| Fox 41 Louisville | WDRB | NBC 6 Paducah | WPSD [New] |
| ABC 3 Lafayette | KATC | NBC 6 New Orleans | WDSU |
6. NewsON
NewsON is a local TV app that allows users to watch live and on-demand local news from TV stations across the United States. In 2021, NewsON joined 14 popular station groups and added 275+ TV stations from 160 markets that covered almost 91% of the US population.
With NewsON you can stream live local news, last 48 hours newscasts, and local news clips. To gain national attention, It broadcast news coverage of local stories. Check out the “Live Stations” features to know which stations are currently broadcasting LIVE.
Users could watch news broadcasts, weather updates, and other local news content from a variety of sources through the NewsON app or website.
NewsON Local Channel Lineup
| States | Station Call Letters | Channel Name | States | Station Call Letters | Channel Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | WTEN | ABC | Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM | KOAT | ABC |
| Atlanta, GA | WSB | ABC | Biloxi-Gulfport, MS | WLOX | ABC |
| Birmingham, AL | WBMA | ABC | Boston, MA | WCVB | ABC |
| Boston, MA | WMUR | ABC | Charlotte, NC | WSOC | ABC |
| Chattanooga | WTVC | ABC | Chicago, IL | WLS | ABC |
| Columbus, GA | WTVM | ABC | Columbus, OH | WSYX | ABC |
| Dallas, TX | WFAA | ABC | Duluth, MN-Superior, WI | WDIO | ABC |
| Fargo, ND | WDAY | ABC | Fresno-Visalia, CA | KFSN | ABC |
| Ft. Smith-Fayetteviile-Springdale-Rogers, AR | KHBS | ABC | Green Bay-Appleton, WI | WBAY | ABC |
| Greenville-Spartanburg, SC-Asheville, NC | WLOS | ABC | Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA | WHTM | ABC |
| Hartford-New Haven, CT | WTNH | ABC | Houston, TX | KTRK | ABC |
| Jackson, MS | WAPT | ABC | Jonesboro, AR | KAIT | ABC |
| Kansas City, KS-MO | KMBC | ABC | Knoxville, TN | WATE | ABC |
| Los Angeles, CA | KABC | ABC | Miami/Ft. Lauderdale | WPLG | ABC |
| Milwaukee, WI | WISN | ABC | Minneapolis/St. Paul | KSTP | ABC |
7. VUit
VUit is a free local TV channel streaming service that also offers live and on-demand content depending on your location in the whole United States. You can stream VUit at your home for free on any device.
Now, it’s easy to watch live news, weather reports, and sports from local stations at home. VUit also delivers original short films, live sporting events, documentaries, business programs, entertaining video podcasts, etc.
With a firestick, you won’t miss a single episode! 24/7 you can watch content on VUit via web address or mobile apps. It’s totally free for Firestick.
| Channel Name | Location | Station Call Letters |
|---|---|---|
| ABC 33/40 Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | WABM |
| CBS 42 Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | WIAT |
| ABC 32 Huntsville | Huntsville, Alabama | WAAY |
| CBS 19 Huntsville | Huntsville, Alabama | WHNT |
| ABC 33/40 Mobile | Mobile, Alabama | WABM |
| NBC 15 Mobile | Mobile, Alabama | WPMI |
| ABC 4 Anchorage | Anchorage, Alaska | KYUR |
| ABC 15 Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | KNXV |
| CBS 5 Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | KPHO |
| ABC 9 Tucson | Tucson, Arizona | KGUN |
| CBS 13 Tucson | Tucson, Arizona | KOLD |
| ABC 7 Fort Smith | Fort Smith, Arkansas | KHBS |
| NBC 5 Fort Smith | Fort Smith, Arkansas | KFSM |
| ABC 2 Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | KATV |
| CBS 11 Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | KTHV |
8. Haystack News
Haystack News, also known as Haystack TV, is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers national and international local channels on Smart TVs, OTT, and mobile apps. Ish Harshwat and Daniel Barreto founded Haystack TV in 2013.
They said they found it difficult to watch news content on TV without a cable subscription. So, they decided to create a local TV app that feeds their demand, including people who are looking for updated local news.
It’s your go-to platform for providing local news about world events. It has vast coverage, you will get most local news to stream anywhere. With the Haystack News app, you can choose particular categories, sources, and topics to create a newscast.
| Channel Name | Station Call Letters |
|---|---|
| Fox 25 Boston | WFXT |
| NBC 11 Pittsburgh | WPXI |
| CBS 7 Seattle | KIRO |
| Fox 23 Tulsa | KOKI |
| ABC 9 Orlando | WFTV |
| Fox 13 Memphis | WHBQ |
| CBS 7 Dayton | WHIO |
| Fox 30 Jacksonville | WFOX |
| ABC 2 Atlanta | WSB |
| ABC 9 Charlotte | WSOC |
| ABC 36 Lexington | WTVQ |
| Fox 25 Biloxi | WXXV |
| CBS 12 Chattanooga | WDEF |
| ABC 3 Wilmington | WWAY |
| NBC 8 Monterey | KSBW |
9. PBS Video
PBS or Public Broadcasting Service is an American public broadcaster that airs free TV service in the United States. PBS Video features the latest news, live TV from local stations, full-length episodes, award-winning documentaries, etc.
From PBS and 350 member stations, you can watch TV or stream your favorite local channel anytime, anywhere. Watching TV and streaming has never been so easy with PBS Video.
Now you can watch what you love and discover in live news, and live tv shows with the PBS Video app. Unlike other streaming apps, PBS Video apps let you access local TV live.
10. Crackle
Crackle was unveiled as a free streaming service in 2004. But, several times it has changed its name. Grouper was named in 2007, Sony Crackle was in 2018. Crackle primarily offers a selection of movies, TV shows, and original content through its streaming platform.
It offers the least local channels or live television broadcasts. As per a few reports, Crackle added 5 local channels to Local Now’s lineup. They promise to keep it as a free streaming space and want to continue their growth.
As a local TV audience, you may get some benefits when you switch to Local Now.
Learn More: How To Change Channel On TCL TV Without Remote Properly?
How to Install and Watch Free Local TV Apps for Firestick?
It’s super easy to download and install any app on Firestick. Here’s a step-by-step guide for you.
- From the Firestick home screen, tap on the “Find” button. You can press the right button on remove until the “Find” option is highlighted. Highlight means, your selection is in the right place.
- Then tap on “Search”
- Then, type the app name you want to download. For Example: Netflix. You have to type the name letter by letter using a remote.
- Then, tap on the app’s name when it appears.
- Next, tap on the app icon. Scroll down to find the download button.
- Finally, tap on the “Download” option. It will start downloading and installing Netflix on FireStick.
- When it’s successfully downloaded and installed, you will see the “Open” button.
- Tap on the app to launch.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need the app to watch regular TV on a Fire Stick, whether or not it’s live. All you have to do is connect an antenna to your TV and use the Fire Stick to look for local channels in your area. This would only give you access to free over-the-air programming; if you want to view paid content, you’ll need to download any application. However, the free local tv apps for firestick I have mentioned are pretty good too.
