- NBC4’s 24/7 channel is free on Roku, Peacock, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus and more.
- FOX LOCAL streams FOX 11 programs free with no cable login.
- An antenna remains the only free way to get everything each station airs.
You do not need cable to follow Los Angeles news. Several stations now offer free 24/7 news channels on streaming platforms, on top of their regular broadcasts. If you have cut cable, you can follow local news, traffic and weather without paying a cent.
Option 1: NBC4’s free 24/7 channel
NBC4 Los Angeles runs a 24/7 streaming channel called NBC Los Angeles News. The station says it is free and available on Roku TV, Peacock, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Local Now, Pluto, Google TV, TCL, Xfinity and Amazon Prime Video, plus the NBC LA app and a Watch News 24/7 button on its website.
- Fire TV: open Fire TV Channels, go to the News tab, choose Local News and find NBC Los Angeles News. No app download needed, the station says.
- Roku: look for the channel in the Live TV guide or The Roku Channel.
- Phones: use the NBC LA app on iOS or Android.
Option 2: FOX 11 on FOX LOCAL
FOX 11 Los Angeles says its FOX LOCAL app is free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Android TV and Vizio, with live news, Good Day LA and local breaking news, and no cable subscription or login required. Its programs on the app include Good Day, GDLA+, Good Nite LA, LA Live News Tonight and The Issue Is. FOX stations note that network programming, such as NFL games, is not part of FOX LOCAL; you need an antenna or a paid service for those.
Tip: Set up both NBC4’s channel and FOX LOCAL. During a fire or earthquake, it helps to switch between stations for different angles and maps.
Option 3: Station websites and apps
ABC7 calls its site Los Angeles’ source for breaking news and live streaming video online. KTLA promotes its own stream, KTLA+, on its website, and CBS Los Angeles covers both KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV on its site. Station apps usually add push alerts for breaking news and weather.
Option 4: PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal points viewers to the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App. Members can unlock more of the library with PBS Passport. Over the air, PBS SoCal says it broadcasts on seven channels, including PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus.
Option 5: An antenna
Streams are built around news. An antenna gets you every station’s full schedule live, including network shows and sports. In Los Angeles, make sure the antenna receives VHF, because ABC7, KCAL, FOX 11 and KCOP transmit on VHF channels. See The Best TV Antenna for Los Angeles: VHF, Mount Wilson and Placement.
| You want | Best free option |
|---|---|
| Local news on in the background all day | NBC4’s 24/7 channel or FOX LOCAL |
| The evening newscast exactly as broadcast | Antenna |
| Network shows and live sports | Antenna |
| Breaking-news alerts on your phone | Station apps |
| PBS documentaries and kids’ shows | PBS App and PBS KIDS App |
In Spanish and other languages
Univision 34 and Telemundo 52 cover local news in Spanish; see Spanish-Language TV and Radio in Los Angeles. For Chinese- and Korean-language media, see Asian-Language TV and Radio in Los Angeles: Chinese, Korean and More.
When the power goes out
Fires, windstorms and earthquakes can knock out power and internet. That is when every streaming option goes dark. Keep a battery radio, know KNX 1070 and your local stations, and keep your phone’s emergency alerts on. Wildfire and Earthquake Alerts in Los Angeles: ShakeAlert, Red Flag Warnings, TV and Radio explains the alert systems.
Setting up FOX LOCAL
FOX 11 gives device-by-device steps. On Roku, search for FOX LOCAL, add the channel and open it. On Amazon Fire TV, use Find, search for FOX LOCAL, then download and open it. On Apple TV, search the App Store for FOX LOCAL. The app should detect that you are in Los Angeles and suggest FOX 11; if it does not, choose a different city in the app and pick FOX 11 Los Angeles.
Mixing antenna and streaming
Many households end up with both: an antenna on the main TV for network shows and sports, and a streaming device with NBC4’s channel or FOX LOCAL for news in the background. Most smart TVs let you switch between the antenna input and streaming apps from the same remote. If you set up a TV for someone else, label the inputs so they can find the news either way.
Whatever you choose, keep at least one station app with alerts turned on. During a fire, a windstorm or an earthquake, a push alert often arrives before you think to turn on the TV.
One more tip: streams can lag a little behind the live broadcast. If you are following a breaking story closely, for example a fire near your neighborhood, the over-the-air signal or the radio is usually the most current.