It’s possible to watch several local channels in Denver, Colorado. However, many TV services that offer local channels are expensive.
The good news, though, is that there are several affordable ways you can get local channels in your area, sometimes even for free. In this guide, we will look at several inexpensive ways to get local channels in Denver, Colorado.
1. A TV antenna
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: Depends on the antenna and your location.
One of the cheapest ways to get local channels in Denver, Colorado, is to connect your TV to an antenna. This way, you can access several over-the-air channels, including local channels, all for free.
With a decent antenna, you can receive all the major broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and PBS) on your TV for free. You can also get other local stations, from affiliates of major broadcast networks to independent local TV stations.
Additionally, you can enjoy several free, over-the-air entertainment channels, including The CW, MeTV, Ion, Telemundo, and more.
Note: To receive the most channels, optimize your antenna placement by installing it in a high place (or near a window for an indoor antenna), aiming it towards TV towers, and keeping it away from obstructions and interferences (buildings, trees, or electronic devices)
For the complete list of over-the-air channels you can receive, go to antennaweb.org and enter your zip code.
Pros
- It is free to watch: no monthly costs other than the initial antenna purchase.
- Access to a variety of entertainment, news, and sports channels.
Cons
- TV signal reception depends on location, antenna quality & placement, and external factors such as weather.
- Limited channel selection: no access to many cable networks.
2. Streaming media players with an antenna
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: Dependent on the antenna used and your location.
Another cheap way to get local channels in Denver, Colorado, is to use a streaming media player that integrates over-the-air antenna channels.
The way this works is that you connect an antenna to the media player, which lets you access over-the-air channels as you would with a live TV streaming service.
Several media devices offer this capability, including:
- Tablo 4th Generation DVR: The device connects to your TV antenna and Wi-Fi router, allowing you to stream and record live TV channels on various devices.
- AirTV Player: An Android-based streaming box that allows you to access over-the-air channels and other streaming services in one interface.
- HDHomeRun: A network TV tuner device, which you can connect an antenna to receive free over-the-air channels on various devices (mobile devices, TV, gaming console, Roku, PC, etc.).
With all of these devices, the number of local channels you receive will depend mainly on the antenna you use, how well you have placed it, and your location.
Pros
- It is free to watch with no monthly costs.
- You can stream live TV channels, offering a better viewing experience.
Cons
- Slightly more expensive as you have to purchase a media device and antenna.
- Channel reception is still dependent on several factors.
3. Local channel apps and websites
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: 1 (you can only watch the live TV stream of the individual local channel)
Many local broadcast networks offer apps and websites where you can watch free live streams of local news, weather, and, in some cases, the network’s live programming.
Some of the apps and websites that you can access in Denver, Colorado, include:
- The PBS App: Available in Denver, Colorado, you can use it to stream live TV from Rocky Mountain PBS (KRMA-TV), Colorado’s local PBS station. Additionally, you can enjoy an extensive collection of on-demand shows from PBS.
- The RMPBS+ app and website: In addition to the PBS app, the Rocky Mountain PBS channel offers a dedicated app and website where you can stream live TV and a variety of on-demand programs.
- CBS News app and website: The CBS News app and website offer a live 24/7 stream of the national CBS channel. You can also stream several local CBS channels, including CBS News Colorado.
- NBC News Now and NBC News app: You can watch the national NBC News live stream on the NBC website and app. The local Denver NBC channel is not on the platform, but you can access other regional channels, including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more.
- 9News+: The local NBC News station in Denver, Colorado, 9News (KUSA), has a dedicated website and app, where you can watch a 24/7 live stream and a variety of on-demand content.
Pros
- Free access to local channel live streams, with some platforms allowing you to access local streams outside your TV market area.
- Most platforms offer on-demand programming.
Cons
- You can only access individual local network streams.
- Some platforms might not offer the full over-the-air live streams of the broadcast network.
4. Free streaming platforms
- Price (Per month): $0
- Channels: Varies by location
Free streaming platforms are another cheap way to get local channels in Denver, Colorado. Many free, ad-supported platforms now offer live TV channels, including extensive local channel collections.
Some of these platforms that you can get in Denver include:
- Pluto TV: Offers over 250 live TV channels, including several dozen local channels, such as the regional new stream of NBC, FOX, and CBS networks.
- Google Freeplay: Offers over 250 channels, which include affiliate stations of local broadcast networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS) and regional NBC News live streams.
- Zeam: Offers over 300 local stations, primarily news, weather, and sports channels, accessible nationwide.
- Tubi: Offers over 100 local channels, including FOX, Hearst Television, NBC, and ABC affiliates. It also offers regional news stations from FOX, ABC, and NBC, as well as specialty local channels like ABC Localish.
- Sling Freestream: Offers a decent selection of local channels, including CBS, NBC, FOX, and ABC, as well as regional FOX and CBS stations.
- TCLtv+: Offers various local channels on the platform, including NBC, FOX, and CBS news channels, and their regional networks.
- LocalNow: Offers over 400 channels, primarily local news and weather stations from various TV markets across the United States.
Pros
- They are free to stream.
- Out-of-market local channels.
- An extensive collection of other live channels and on-demand content.
Cons
- They are ad-supported.
- They might not offer full live streams of broadcast networks.
5. Subscription-based services
- Price (Per month): $6.99 – $169.99
- Channels: Dozens (varies by the pay-TV service).
Free platforms are an excellent option for free local channels in Denver, Colorado. However, many of these platforms offer limited local channel selections and are often accompanied by annoying, intrusive ads.
Therefore, if you want to unlock more premium local channel options, you may have to purchase a pay-TV subscription. While these are often expensive, you can get some affordable services, including:
- Sling TV: Offers NBC, FOX, ABC, and other select local channels on the Sling Blue package, with prices starting from $45.99 p/m.
- DirecTV: Offers the MyNews, which includes ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, at $39.99 p/m.
- Frndly TV: Offers independent local broadcast networks (including KDCO and Channel 3 in Denver) for $6.99 p/m.
You can unlock more local channels, plus a variety of other content, including premium cable and sports networks, by purchasing more expensive subscriptions like YouTube TV ($82.99 p/m), Hulu + Live TV ($82.99 – $95.99 p/m), and DirecTV Stream ($89.99 – $169.99 p/m).
Pros
- Full access to major local broadcast networks.
- Access to premium cable and sports channels.
Cons
- Paid subscriptions can get expensive.
- Local channels are often geo-restricted to specific areas.