You can stream local TV channels for free — here's how - Engadget

You can watch your region's sports or news without paying an arm and a leg. Really. Cutting the cord isn't as easy, or as cheap, as it looks. With streamers seemingly engaged in OPEC-style price gouging, many viewers' television subscription costs are mirroring cable bills. Moreover, many viewers don't even get the oft-touted benefit of an ad-free experience, with streamers forcing consumers to choose between ad-supported budget subscriptions and costly premium-tier options. For some old enough to remember a world before the streaming era, one of the great delights of the cable experience was the lost art of channel surfing. And while it's difficult to quantify the content-high of flipping through an endless Rolodex of local content in a single, unhinged sitting, users can utilize a variety of pathways to access local news, sports and entertainment programs. And while many viewers are aware that platforms like Hulu and YouTube TV offer live streaming, it can be difficult to know where to access local broadcasts for free. Today, cord-cutters have more options than ever to access free local programming without a costly cable subscription. With digital over-the-air broadcasts, free st