Short answer: start with an antenna, then add only what your particular team needs. Local NFL games have always been free over the air, and since 2025 a growing number of NBA, NHL and MLB teams have moved to free local stations too. For the rest, the team's own streaming app, usually about $20 a month, now replaces the cable channel. The catch is that out-of-market packages such as MLB.TV, NBA League Pass and NFL Sunday Ticket black out your local team, so they're the one thing you shouldn't buy for this purpose.
At a glance
Your local team without cable
| First step | Your team's "how to watch" page |
| Free option | An antenna, for more teams than ever |
| Paid option | Team or network app, about $20-30/month |
| Don't buy for this | Out-of-market packages: local games blacked out |
| National games | A separate layer: ESPN, Prime, Peacock and others |
The four-step method
Every team now does things differently, so a generic "best service" list won't answer this. What works reliably is a short sequence.
1. Read your team's official "how to watch" page. Every major team publishes one for the season, listing its local TV station, streaming app and radio partners. It's the most accurate source there is, because the team signed the deals.
2. Check what an antenna gets you. If your team is on a free local station, the antenna covers the local games for a one-off cost.
3. Add the local streaming app only if needed. Where games are on a regional network or team app, subscribe to that directly rather than to a whole cable replacement.
4. Decide how many national games you care about. Playoff and marquee games are on national channels and streamers, which are a separate decision.
The background to why local sport changed so much in 2026 is in our guide to regional sports network streaming.
Step one: an antenna
A decent indoor or loft antenna costs a one-off sum, needs no subscription and picks up your local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations, plus independent stations such as ION and the ones many teams now use.
Check reception before buying. Online reception maps from the FCC and others show which stations reach your address and roughly how strong they are. Distance, hills and building materials all matter.
Place it high and near a window, and rescan for channels after moving it. An outdoor or loft antenna helps if you're far from the transmitters.
Watch it on any TV. Every modern television has a built-in tuner. Networked tuners can also stream antenna channels to phones and streaming sticks around the house.
Mind ATSC 3.0. Some stations are moving to the newer NextGen TV standard, which older TVs can't decode without an adapter. Broadcasters currently simulcast the older format, but it's worth knowing if you buy new equipment.
League by league
| League | Local games usually on | Without cable |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | Local CBS, Fox or NBC; some national streamers | Antenna covers most games; NFL+ on phones |
| MLB | Team or MLB-produced local feed | Team app, about $20/month or $100/season |
| NBA | Free local station, team network or DAZN | Antenna or app, depending on team |
| NHL | Free local station, team network or Victory+ | Antenna or app, depending on team |
| MLS | Apple TV | Included in Apple TV, no local blackout |
The NFL is the easy one. Sunday afternoon games involving your local team are on your local CBS or Fox station, and Sunday night games on NBC. A growing number of national games go to streamers such as Prime Video and Netflix, which the antenna won't cover. NFL+ shows local and primetime games on phones and tablets, not on a TV.
MLS has no local blackouts. Every match is in the Apple TV subscription wherever you live.
Step two: the team or network app
If your team's games aren't free over the air, the next stop is its local streaming product. These come in three kinds.
MLB-run apps. For the 14 baseball teams whose broadcasts MLB now produces, a team-branded app sells in-market streams for about $20 a month or $100 a season.
Team-owned networks. Channels such as YES, NESN, Marquee, SNY and SportsNet LA sell their own streaming subscriptions, typically $20-30 a month.
Third-party apps. Victory+ streams some teams free with adverts, and DAZN has taken local streaming rights for several NBA teams for 2026-27.
All of these check that you're inside the team's home territory, usually from your internet connection or location services. If you travel, local streams generally won't work outside the area.
Step three: the national games
Your team's biggest games, including most playoffs, are on national channels and streamers, which the local app doesn't include. These are the usual homes in 2026:
| League | National partners |
|---|---|
| NFL | CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN/ABC, Prime Video, Netflix |
| NBA | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, Prime Video |
| MLB | Fox, NBC/Peacock, ESPN, TBS, Apple TV, Netflix |
| NHL | ESPN/ABC, TNT |
You don't need all of them. Many fans add one national service for the months their team is in the playoffs, then cancel. Our league guides for the NFL and NBA go into the national deals in detail.
When a live TV service makes sense
A live TV streaming service, such as YouTube TV (from about $83 a month), Hulu + Live TV or Fubo, replaces a cable package with one app. It can make sense if:
You follow several teams across leagues and want the national cable channels (ESPN, TNT, TBS) in one place.
It carries your regional network. Coverage varies a lot: YouTube TV, Hulu and Sling dropped most regional sports networks years ago, while Fubo and DirecTV carry more. Check the service's channel lookup with your ZIP code before subscribing.
You watch other live TV anyway, such as news, so the cost is shared across more than sport.
If you only care about one local team, a live TV service is usually the most expensive way to watch it. An antenna plus one team app is typically far cheaper.
Common mistakes
Buying an out-of-market package. MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, NHL Center Ice and NFL Sunday Ticket all black out teams in your area. They're for following a team you don't live near.
Assuming last season's channel. In 2026 dozens of teams changed their local partner. Check each season.
Paying twice. If you already have a live TV service or cable login, it may unlock the team's app or network app at no extra cost.
Turning to unlicensed IPTV. "Every channel" packages that list every regional network aren't licensed, often fail on game nights, and give you no recourse. With free local TV and $20 apps, the legitimate route is rarely more expensive. Our guide to IPTV legality in the US explains the difference.
Three example setups
An NFL household: an antenna for the local CBS, Fox and NBC games, plus Prime Video if you already have it for Thursday nights. Total ongoing cost: often nothing extra.
A baseball fan in an MLB-produced market: the team app at about $100 for the season, plus an antenna for any Fox or NBC national games. Add Peacock or Apple TV only for the months you want their exclusive games.
A basketball and hockey fan in a city that moved to free TV: an antenna for the local games, plus a month or two of the relevant national streamer for the playoffs.
For the devices side, including streaming sticks that run all the team apps, see our streaming box guide.
Quick answers
How can I watch my local team without cable? Check the team's official "how to watch" page, use an antenna if the games are on a local station, and otherwise subscribe to the team's or network's streaming app.
Can I watch local sports with an antenna? Yes. Local NFL games are on over-the-air networks, and many NBA, NHL and MLB teams moved to free local stations in 2025 and 2026.
Why is my local team blacked out on MLB.TV or League Pass? Out-of-market packages exclude teams in your area because a local broadcaster holds those rights.
How much do team streaming apps cost? Typically about $20 to $30 a month, with season passes around $100 to $200. Some teams stream free.
Does YouTube TV include regional sports networks? Very few. Fubo and DirecTV carry more of them. Check with your ZIP code before subscribing.
What's the cheapest way to watch local NFL games? An antenna, which picks up the local CBS, Fox and NBC stations free.
Can I watch my local team's stream when travelling? Usually not. Local streams are limited to the team's home territory.
Local broadcast partners, app prices and blackout areas change from season to season, and many teams changed partners in 2026. Always check your team's official site before subscribing. Checked September 2026.