How to get local channels on my smart tv

Over the air (OTA) programming has come a long way - instead of static, most local stations now broadcast in HD! And to make things even better, your TV has a tuner that can scan for and automatically program local channels that will appear on your channel list. Plus, an antenna will help your TV find even more channels and improve the quality of the signal.

Important: The Broadcasting menu will be greyed out if you do not first change the source to TV.

Channels and broadcasts just don't magically appear on your TV. You have to connect an antenna or cable and then scan for local stations. Once you do this, available channels nearby will be yours to watch!

1. First, make sure you have an antenna or a cable box already installed and set up to go. You may need to attach a coax cable to the antenna or box if it doesn't come with one.

2. When you're ready, connect the other end of the coax cable to the ANT IN port on the back of your TV, or One Connect Box if you have one. 

   

3. Change the source on your TV to TV. There are a few ways to do this.

   • You can press the Source button on your remote and then select the source labeled TV.

   • You can press Home, navigate to Source, and then select TV.

4. Once you are on the TV source, use the directional pad or arrow buttons on your remote to select Settings (All Settings).

5. Select Broadcasting, and then select Auto Program.

   

6. Select Start to begin auto-programming, and then select either Air, Cable, or Both.

   • Select Air if you are using an antenna only.

   • Select Cable if you are using a cable box only.

   • Select Both if you are using an antenna and a cable box. You will get the most channels this way.

7. Your TV will begin to scan for channels. After it's done, select Close to finish.
   

If you aren't getting a good signal or see an error message on your TV, check out our troubleshooting guide.

If you're already bored of all the channels that come with cable or an antenna - or maybe you don't have either set up - you can get free TV using Samsung TV Plus! This service is complimentary on all newer Samsung smart TVs and streams channelsover the internet directly to your TV.

To access this feature, you simply need to press the Home button on your remote and then select Samsung TV Plus. You can learn more about the service by checking out our complete Samsung TV Plus guide.

© 2022 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samsung, Samsung Galaxy and Family Hub are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All other brands, products and services, and their respective trademarks, names and logos, are the property of their respective owners. The above content is provided for entertainment and information purposes only. Consult user manual for more complete information. All information included herein is subject to change without notice. Samsung is not responsible for any direct or indirect damages, arising from or related to use or reliance of the content herein.

Samsung TVs of today come with a plethora of streaming services and content providers for you to enjoy. However, sometimes you might want to watch local channels on your TV. Whether your Samsung is a smart TV or a non-smart one, there are multiple ways to watch local TV channels on it. The question of how is what we are going to answer here today.

Getting your Samsung TV to run local channels may require purchasing additional components and devices. Read on to learn what you need to do to get local channels on Samsung TVs.

Get An Antenna For A Non-Smart Samsung TV

If you do not have a Samsung smart TV, you can use an antenna to get local channels. First, you need to buy an antenna compatible with your TV. You can buy a high-performance, long-range Winegard Antenna or an indoor antenna with a 40-mile range called the Mohu Leaf 30.

Included with the antenna will be a coaxial cable that you will connect to the RF connector on the back of your Samsung TV. Set up your antenna outdoors, and follow these steps to complete the procedure:

1. Turn on the TV and open the home screen from the remote.
2. Navigate to source from the app bar on the home screen.
3. Press the Up button from the remote and select television.
4. Plug the coaxial cable mentioned earlier in the back of the TV. If you haven’t connected it or it is defective, you will see a No Signal message on the screen.
5. Select Channel Scan from the options on-screen.
6. Select the signal source (Air, Cable, etc.). Because you are using an antenna, it will be Air.
7. Press Enter on the relevant source to start scanning for channels.
8. Close the window when the scan is complete.

If you choose to install an outdoor antenna, there may be problems with signal interference if there are tall buildings around your property. This problem will also occur during bad weather.

You can use an indoor antenna even if you have a smart TV made by Samsung. The process for storing local channels will remain the same.

Install Third-Party Apps On A Samsung Smart TV To Get Live TV Channels

Some apps and streaming services available on your Samsung smart TV app store can broadcast local TV channels without the use of an antenna. That includes popular apps like Locast, Pluto TV, and Xumo – Free movies & TV.

Here is how you can download and install a third-party app on your Samsung smart TV:

1. Press the Home button to open the home screen.
2. Select Apps and then select the Search in the top right.
3. Type in the app you want to get and press on Install.
4. When the download completes, you can find your app on the home screen (or inside Apps).

You will have to connect to WiFi even when watching the local channels available in these apps. If you would like to learn more about Samsung, check out this article.

Connect A Cable Or Satellite Box To A Samsung Smart TV

If you want to watch local cable TV or satellite channels on your Samsung smart TV, you can connect a cable or satellite box to your TV via an HDMI cable. Follow these steps:

1. Ensure that the TV and the cable/satellite box are off.
2. Plug an HDMI cable in the HDMI OUT port of the external device.
3. Connect the other end of the cable to an empty port on your Samsung smart TV.
4. Turn on both devices. Depending on what model TV you have, one of two things can happen:

Your TV may automatically recognize the external device and switch the source for content to the cable/satellite box. The TV may not have detected the new connection. In this case, press Source on the remote control (or press Home and navigate to source on the home screen). Switch to the HDMI port with the external cable/satellite box connected.

If your Samsung TV is not discovering channels during the scan, the antenna is in the wrong slot. Remember, there are two types of RF connectors provided in most TVs. One is for Air as a source, and the other is for cable. If the source you selected does not match the slot with the antenna connection, your TV will not be able to find channels.

In case of an unsuccessful scan, you can also restart your TV to see if that solves the problem. Software or hardware glitches can sometimes interfere with such processes. Switch off your TV and unplug it from the mains. Plug it back in after a few moments and turn it on again. Repeat the process of selecting and finalizing the source to begin the scan.

Conclusion

Samsung TVs are brilliant products for entertainment, as they come packed full of TV shows, movies, and Live TV channels. However, one might want to watch some local channel on their TV once in a while. The process of doing so has been covered diligently for both types of Samsung TVs. We hope you leave here with all your questions answered and your problem solved.

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