Local Channels on IPTV: ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX Explained

For a lot of American households, the big four broadcast networks are still the heart of TV. ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX carry the evening news, the morning shows, prime-time dramas and a huge share of the biggest games of the year. So when people think about switching to IPTV, one of the first questions is simple: will I still get my local channels?

The honest answer is more nuanced than yes or no. This guide explains how local broadcast TV works in the US, what that means for IPTV, the caveats you should know about and what to ask before you subscribe to any service.

How Local Broadcast TV Works in the US

ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are national networks, but what you watch on them comes through local stations, called affiliates. Each TV market across the country has its own affiliates, which carry the national shows plus their own local news, weather, ads and, for sports, the games chosen for that region.

• National programs, such as most prime-time shows, are the same everywhere, although air times shift by time zone.
• Local news and weather are produced by each station for its own market.
• Many sports broadcasts are regional, so different markets can see different games at the same time.

What This Means for IPTV

With cable or an antenna, you get the affiliates for your own market. With IPTV, the network channels in a lineup may come from a specific station or city that is not yours. That has a few practical effects:

• The local news and weather may be for another city.
• A regional game shown on that feed may not be the game your local station is airing.
• Air times may follow another time zone, for example the East Coast schedule if you live on the West Coast.
• Which network feeds are in a lineup, and from which markets, can vary by provider and can change over time.

None of this is a reason to avoid IPTV, but it is a reason to check before you buy if local channels matter to you.

Live Sports on the Big Four

Big national events, such as major championship games, are usually shown across the whole country on the same network. Weekly regular-season games are a different story. On a typical fall Sunday, for example, different parts of the country can see different games on the same network, chosen for each region.

If you follow a specific team, ask whether the lineup includes a feed that is likely to carry its games, and check the guide on game day. Our guides to watching live sports with IPTV and setting up the room for game day cover the rest.

Guide Times and Time Zones

If a network feed comes from a different time zone, its guide entries may look an hour or more off compared with your local schedule. The guide is usually right for that feed; the feed simply runs on another clock. Before adjusting any settings, compare what is on screen with the guide entry.

Our EPG TV guide article explains how to read the guide, and Smarters Pro users can follow our EPG refresh and time shift guide to fix guide times.

What to Ask Before You Subscribe

1. Which of ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are in the lineup?
2. Which cities or time zones do those feeds come from?
3. Is there a feed for my area, or the nearest large city?
4. How do local channels appear in the guide?

Ask us these questions on our contact page before you buy, and we will tell you what to expect for your area. We would rather set expectations honestly than have you surprised on game day. Asking the same questions of any provider is also part of spotting a reliable IPTV provider.

The Free Backup: An Antenna

If your own local stations are essential, an over-the-air antenna is worth considering alongside IPTV. In many parts of the US, a simple indoor or rooftop antenna picks up local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX affiliates in HD for free after the one-time cost of the antenna.

• Reception depends on your distance from the broadcast towers, the terrain and the building you live in.
• Many TVs have a built-in tuner, so you plug the antenna in and run a channel scan from the TV settings.
• An antenna and IPTV can share the same TV, and you switch inputs depending on what you are watching.

Free tools from broadcasters and the government can show which stations you are likely to receive at your address. Search for an antenna reception map for your area before buying.

How Cable Compares on Local Channels

Cable providers are set up to carry the affiliates for your market, which is one of their real advantages. If guaranteed local stations are your top priority and an antenna will not work where you live, cable may still be the better fit. Our IPTV vs cable comparison looks at that trade-off in more detail.

Setting Up Local Channels for Easy Access

Once you know which network feeds are in your lineup, a little setup makes them easy to reach:

• Add the network feeds you watch most to favorites in your player app, if it offers favorites.
• Name or note which feed is closest to your city so the household knows which one to pick.
• Check the guide the day before a big game to see which feed is carrying it.
• If you also use an antenna, label the TV input so family members can switch between the two easily.

A couple of minutes of preparation means nobody is flipping between feeds while the opening kickoff happens.

Troubleshooting

The News Is About Another City

The network feed in your lineup likely comes from another market. Check whether another feed is closer to you, or use an antenna for local news.

The Game on the Network Is Not My Team

Regional games differ by market. Look through the other network feeds in the guide to see if one is carrying your team.

Prime-Time Shows Start at the Wrong Time

The feed may follow another time zone. Compare the on-screen program with the guide and adjust your viewing time rather than the guide settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Know What to Expect, Then Enjoy It

Local channels on IPTV work best when you know what you are getting. Ask us about your area, then choose a player on our apps page, follow the installation steps and pick your plan.