If you live in Florida, you don’t have to overpay to watch your local stations.
You have several affordable paths you could get your Dolphins or Jags games, Gators or Hurricanes football, local news, and more. However, with so many options to choose from in the state, you might be stuck on what works best for you and your budget.
Below is a guide on the cheapest way to get local channels in Florida, together with prices and what each service offers:
The cheapest way to get local channels in Florida
In this state, you have the following cheap methods to use:
1. Over-the-air antenna
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: 5+ (all major broadcast networks; often dozens of subchannels depending on city)
If you’re serious about paying for finding the cheapest way to get local channels in Florida, an antenna is your best friend.
You’ll pull in ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and a long list of subchannels. However, there is a one-time fee of approximately $20 to $150 to cover the cost of an indoor/outdoor antenna.
In Florida’s big metros, you get tens of free channels from classic TV, movies, weather radar feeds, and local-interest programming. You may want to try out the PBD WA-2608 antenna, which has good signal reception.
Start by locating your nearest towers and noting their compass bearings. This tells you how to aim. And ensure you get a UHF plus VHF compatible antenna to be able to pull a lot of channels.
Pros:
- Free forever
- Carries all network NFL/college football and local news without blackouts.
Cons:
- Reception varies by building materials and distance from towers
- No built-in cloud DVR unless you add hardware
2. Free local-news apps (station apps, NewsON, Haystack, Tubi Local News)
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: Dozens of local news streams (varies by market)
Almost every major Florida station now streams live newscasts and breaking coverage in its own app or through free aggregators.
For example, WPLG’s Local10+ in Miami aggregates live/local content and FAST channels statewide. NewsON, Haystack News, and Tubi’s Live Local News tiles carry many Florida stations’ live newscasts and clips.
Pros:
- $0 and legal
- Great backup when storms temporarily knock out the antenna.
Cons:
- Usually, news only, not the full network prime-time slate or NFL games.
3. PBS App
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: 1: Your local PBS livestream, plus on-demand library
You can stream your local PBS station live, free of charge, in most areas of Florida via the PBS App. It is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, mobile devices, and the web.
This platform carries PBS NewsHour, local public-affairs shows, like “The Florida Channel”, kids’ programming, and pledge specials, without any paid TV subscription.
You should still add an antenna if you want ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC, but for educational content and local PBS programming, the app alone covers a lot.
Pros:
- Totally free
- Great kids lineup.
- Broad device support and clean interface.
Cons:
- Only PBS and no commercial networks.
4. Paramount with SHOWTIME
- Price (Per month): $12.99
- Channels: 1 (your local CBS). An extensive on-demand library is available, too.
If you want CBS for NFL Sunday afternoons, this is the best way to go. It also has March Madness windows and your local CBS newscasts.
It includes a live local CBS feed in supported markets. That means you can watch the network’s sports and primetime live without an $80+ live-TV bundle.
For many Florida viewers, using an antenna is sufficient. The antenna handles ABC/FOX/NBC/PBS, while Paramount+ handles CBS.
Pros:
- Live local CBS at a low monthly price
- Big on-demand library
- Great football coverage.
Cons:
- Only solves CBS, and you still need an antenna or other apps for ABC/FOX/NBC.
5. Peacock Premium Plus
- Price (Per month): $16.99
- Channels: 1 (your local NBC) + on-demand Peacock catalog
This is the most cost-effective way to access local channels in Florida if you want NBC for Sunday Night Football, the Olympics, and local NBC newscasts.
It features a comprehensive on-demand library that includes Universal films, NBC shows, and sports shoulder programming.
If you don’t want to add an antenna yet, you can combine Peacock Plus (NBC) with Paramount+ (CBS) and still pay far less than for a complete live-TV bundle.
As for compatibility, it works with almost all smart TVs and internet-accessible devices.
Pros:
- Best for SNF or Olympics
- Huge on-demand library
Cons:
- Only the NBC live channel
6. FOX One
- Price (Per month): About $19.99
- Channels: 1 (FOX network live stream)
If your must-have is FOX for NFL on most Sundays, college football, The Masked Singer, etc., then this is a solid choice. The FOX One provides a live FOX stream for under 20 bucks a month.
However, this service is oriented around the national network feed, not your local affiliate’s extra news blocks. If you want local newscasts or news, consider combining this with an antenna or free OTA apps.
Pros:
- Cheapest path to watch the FOX network
- Great for NFL Sundays without a bundle
Cons:
- Doesn’t fully include your local FOX station’s news schedule
7. Sling TV + Antenna
- Price (Per month): $40 and $45 for Sling Orange or Blue
- Channels: 40–45 cable channels + all locals you receive via antenna
The cheapest way to get local channels in Florida and cut the cord is with Sling + an antenna. Sling stays affordable by getting your local channels via the antenna.
On top of that, you get ESPN/FS1/TNT/HGTV/Discovery-type cable nets. This remains a top recommendation because you avoid the $80+ fees from other platforms while still having the cable channels you care about.
Additionally, their app/website is compatible with almost any device that can access the internet.
Please don’t count on the service to give you all your local channels. The antenna supplies locals, and it might not pick up all of them, depending on your location.
Pros:
- Lowest monthly cost for cable networks
- Add Paramount+ (CBS) or Peacock Plus (NBC) if needed
Cons:
- Sling’s locals are limited and inconsistent
8. YouTube TV
- Price (Per month): $82.99
- Channels: 100+
If you’re willing to pay for convenience and a polished DVR, YouTube TV is hard to beat. At the premium price, you usually get ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC, and PBS in a single interface in Florida. Additionally, you have unlimited DVR and access to excellent apps on every device.
This platform excels at covering NFL Sunday network windows, college football on ABC/FOX/CBS/NBC, as well as major events like the Olympics and golf majors. All this in one app.
Pros:
- All majors in one app
- Unlimited DVR
- Smooth app experience
Cons:
- Not the cheapest
- RSNs are limited if you need them.
9. Hulu + Live TV
- Price (Per month): $82.99
- Channels: 95+
At that price, Hulu + Live TV includes your local channels in most Florida ZIP codes and throws in Disney+ and ESPN+. If you’re already paying for those, the math can work in Hulu’s favor.
Hulu’s DVR is unlimited, and the on-demand library is deep. If you care about PBS, the service doesn’t carry it the way YouTube TV does. This can be a tie-breaker depending on your household.
Pros:
- Locals + Disney+ESPN+ bundle value
- Unlimited DVR and strong on-demand.
Cons:
- Occasional channel changes may occur, so please check the current lineup for updates.
10. Fubo
- Price (Per month): $84.99 for Pro
- Channels: 200+
This provider is great if your household is sports-centric and you want to access a wide range of league-specific and international sports, in addition to local ones. It often offers a discounted first month and other cheaper plans.
While it offers over 200 channels, it is worth noting that you can only watch those available in your ZIP code.
If you primarily want ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC, along with a clean DVR, YouTube TV is a simpler option. However, if you’re looking for sheer sports volume with local coverage, Fubo has an edge.
Pros:
- Huge sports coverage, and also includes locals
- Simultaneous streams of up to 10 devices
Cons:
- Pricier than other options
11. DIRECTV
- Price (Per month): $84.99
- Channels: 90+
DIRECTV via the Internet offers TV that feels like old-school cable. It is full of locals, a grid guide, and lots of package tiers.
So, if you prefer the cable feel and want strong channel breadth, including local channels, this is a long-term investment fit. Additionally, it can be accessed from any device that has internet connectivity.
Pros:
- Comes with locals, so you do not need any other service
- Has a classic cable feel and is easy on multi-TV households
Cons:
- It has the highest ongoing price, and add-ons for additional content further add to the cost
How to choose the cheapest way to get local channels in Florida
We recommend trying the station apps, such as NewsON, Haystack, or Tubi Local, for breaking news first. If NBC or CBS is your top priority, try Peacock Premium Plus or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
If not enough, add an antenna. An OTA antenna unlocks all majors for free, and it’s the most reliable for live coverage and EAS alerts.
If you want everything in one app, consider YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV for a cleaner, all-in-one experience, or Fubo if you’re sports-centric. DIRECTV via the Internet is fine, but keep in mind it is pricier in the long term.