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LilNasty
Reel Rookie

How to watch local channels?

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How do I set up local channels? I have my antenna connected to my ROKU TV.

When I go to LIVE TV I see all the channels from across the country. Not my local broadcast channels. 

I went to the ROKU Community and saw some directions to do this:

Settings > TV Inputs > Live TV > Manage Channels > Hide streaming channels

...but after following these directions when I go back to LIVE TV I still get all the channels from across the country. I had to rescan the channels to get just my LOCAL broadcast channels.

When I go to LIVE TV I (again) lose my LOCAL channels and still only get all the channels from across the country. Also, I do not have a TV Guide of all my channels that are local for me. 

I had to follow the directions from the ROKU Community, then rescan my LOCAL Channels...but still loose them (again) when I go to LIVE TV. 

How do I get my list of LOCAL Channels to stay on LIVE TV...with a TV GUIDE of what to view. 

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5 Solutions

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RokuArjiemar
Community Moderator
Community Moderator

Re: How to watch local channels?

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Hello! @mlvn,

Thank you for your question,

We appreciate your inquiry about how to watch local channels using your Roku device. We are happy to help.

Many Roku customers, especially cord-cutters, inquire about channels offering local news and weather. We're excited to inform you that there are now more options than ever before! 

Please check here for information on how to watch local channels and news on Roku devices.

Happy Streaming! 

Thanks,
Arjiemar

Arjiemar
Roku Community Moderator

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atc98092
Community Streaming Expert

Re: How to watch local channels?

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There should be a setting under Settings/Home screen that will put the Antenna TV icon on the home screen. It might get loaded at the bottom of the list, so you'd have to move it up so it can be seen without scrolling. I'm going from memory, as I haven't had a Roku TV in a number of years. Hopefully they didn't remove that from the settings. 

Dan

Roku Community Streaming Expert

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HDMIGuy
Roku Guru

Re: How to watch local channels?

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@dal28dal  On your Roku TV go to settings, system, power, and select Antenna TV as your power on channel.

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RokuCarly
Community Moderator
Community Moderator

Re: How to watch local channels?

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Thank you for joining us here in the Roku Community, @Unhappyvictim!

We appreciate you reaching out for support. We'd be happy to be of assistance here and share further details regarding setting up an antenna for your Roku TV.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to receive free “over-the-air” TV broadcasts from nearby TV stations using an HDTV antenna. You can refer to Antenna Web for more information on accessing “over-the-air” TV in your area and finding and using an HDTV antenna.

To access “over-the-air” broadcast television, the HDTV antenna must be connected to the Live TV input of your TV.

  1. Connect the coaxial cable from your HDTV antenna to the “Ant/Cable In” connector on the back of your TV
  2. Press Home on your Roku remote
  3. Select Live TV
  4. Follow the instructions on the TV screen to complete the setup
  • Note: If Live TV is missing, you can add it by going to Settings > TV inputs > Live TV > Set up input.

Furthermore, please be informed that this is only accessible if you have a Roku TV. Kindly visit this support article related to this for further information: How to set up and watch live TV on your Roku TV system

Feel free to let us know if there's anything else we can be of assistance with.

Warm regards,
Carly

Carly Y.
Roku Community Moderator

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Rags7764
Binge Watcher

Re: How to watch local channels?

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After I scanned for and found my local antenna channels, I made them all my favorite by checking boxes. When I go to live TV guide, I go to favorite, there they are. If there is another or better way, please let me know. Eric 

 

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64 REPLIES 64
AvsGunnar
Community Streaming Expert

Re: How to watch local channels?

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@LilNasty 

Go to Settings/TV Inputs.  Look under the "Unused Inputs" for "live tv".  This is the antenna/local/OTA input.

After you enable this input, go to Settings/TV Inputs  and highlight the Live TV.  Then select Rename and change LiveTV to Antenna.

Then go to your Home Screen and look for the "Antenna" tile on your Home Screen.  You will need to select this Antenna tile in order to watch your locals. 

If you select "Live TV" from the left hand side menu, you are actually selecting the Roku Streaming Channels.  You need to select the Antenna tile instead.  Roku made watching local channel unnecessarily confusing by labeling everything Live TV.  This is why I just find it easier to suggest renaming the OTA input to Antenna to keep things straight.

Roku Community Streaming Expert
Just another Roku user... I am not a Roku employee.
Insignia RokuTV, Ultra 4660, Premiere+ 3921, Express 4k+ 3941, Streambar 9102

Co-tack
Newbie

Re: How to watch local channels?

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Roku TV can't watch local channels live directly except pre- recorded news only.

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daveobieone
Reel Rookie

Re: How to watch local channels?

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I wish there was a solution for people who can't receive local channels via an OTA outside antenna!   I live in the mountains, and can't receive ANYTHING over the air at my location on any TV.  Everything is blocked by mountains. 

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HDMIGuy
Roku Guru

Re: How to watch local channels?

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@Co-tack Look at the post above yours.  If local channels are available in your area you can watch them on a Roku TV just like you can on any other TV.  Just select the antenna input as indicated..

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atc98092
Community Streaming Expert

Re: How to watch local channels?

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@Co-tack wrote:

Roku TV can't watch local channels live directly except pre- recorded news only.


That is not accurate. Any Roku TV that has an antenna connected to the F-Connector can receive any local station within reception range. The number of stations received will depend on 1) how many local stations there are and 2) the signal strength of the station you want to watch. Digital TV requires a minimum signal level for a watchable display. Anything below that minimum and you get nothing. Above that minimum you have a perfect picture. It's all or nothing with ATSC broadcasting.

Dan

Roku Community Streaming Expert

Help others find this answer and click "Accept as Solution."
If you appreciate my answer, maybe give me a Kudo.

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atc98092
Community Streaming Expert

Re: How to watch local channels?

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@daveobieone wrote:

I wish there was a solution for people who can't receive local channels via an OTA outside antenna!   I live in the mountains, and can't receive ANYTHING over the air at my location on any TV.  Everything is blocked by mountains. 


There used to be, but they got shut down by the networks. It is silly, but most stations are prohibited from streaming their live broadcasts. Your only option is probably satellite, or one of the online streaming TV providers (Sling, YouTube TV, Fubo TV, etc.) But those will still likely not carry every single broadcaster in your area.

Dan

Roku Community Streaming Expert

Help others find this answer and click "Accept as Solution."
If you appreciate my answer, maybe give me a Kudo.

I am not a Roku employee, just another user.
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mlvn
Newbie

Re: How to watch local channels?

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The is no antenna selection just the live tv I am confused

 

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RokuArjiemar
Community Moderator
Community Moderator

Re: How to watch local channels?

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Hello! @mlvn,

Thank you for your question,

We appreciate your inquiry about how to watch local channels using your Roku device. We are happy to help.

Many Roku customers, especially cord-cutters, inquire about channels offering local news and weather. We're excited to inform you that there are now more options than ever before! 

Please check here for information on how to watch local channels and news on Roku devices.

Happy Streaming! 

Thanks,
Arjiemar

Arjiemar
Roku Community Moderator
dal28dal
Reel Rookie

Re: How to watch local channels?

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Can you put Antennae TV on the home screen so I don’t have to navigate to it every time I want to watch?

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