There’s no shortage of options for watching online videos, thanks to the many streaming services available. But what if you’re looking for on-the-go live television for your phone or tablet?
If you already have a few subscriptions to platforms and shows and your budget is maxed out, you don’t need to pay for another service to watch real-time news and other programming. (You will, however, probably need to wait through commercial breaks and some targeted advertising based on your viewing habits.)
Here’s an overview of what’s out there.
If You’ve Switched From Cable …
First of all, if you already subscribe to a multichannel cable-alternative service to watch on your TV set — think YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Philo, Sling, DISH or the Fubo Sports Network — you should also be able to watch on your phone or tablet. Download the company’s app, and log in with your username and password. When you’re not hooked up to Wi-Fi, you can usually stream over a cellular connection if you have enough data on your plan.
Amazon Prime Video has a Live TV tab with hundreds of channels, including news programs from local television stations around the country. Some content was consolidated from Amazon’s former FreeVee app, which was phased out, but that content is still free on Amazon’s site, even for nonsubscribers.
If ‘Free’ Is the Right Price …
Beyond Amazon’s free content, there is no shortage of apps for “free ad-supported streaming television,” a category whose name is often shortened to FAST.
The programming contains commercials that you can’t skip. However, the content (typically a mix of older movies, classic TV shows and live programming) usually doesn’t require a credit card to view. With some services, you don’t even need to create an account to start watching — just download the app and go.
Plex, Pluto TV, the Roku Channel (which does not require Roku hardware), Tubi and Xumo Play are among the bigger FAST services offering live news and selected sports content, alongside movies and shows. Samsung TV Plus is a free service for Samsung devices, and LocalNow focuses on regional weather and headlines.
The programs vary, and some channels are available on several platforms. But since you’re not committing to a paid subscription, you can sample services to find the one (or ones) you like best.
If you’re looking for family programming, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Tubi are among the services with sections dedicated to children’s content. The PBS Kids Video and Sensical apps also offer free shows for children.
Some subscription services also have free live TV channels. These include Sling’s Freestream and Philo’s free section, which both offer BBC News. And if you’re looking primarily for headlines, most of the major U.S. national TV networks and many local station affiliates have their own streaming news apps.
If You Use an Antenna …
Long before cable and internet providers began delivering television, people could freely pull broadcast signals out of the airwaves using an antenna. If you’re still an antenna user, you can stream live TV to your devices over an internet connection with tools like Channels ($80 a year) or Tablo ($100 and up).
But what if you have no Wi-Fi or cellular connection — or even lack electrical power after a storm or other incident? If you can keep your device charged (a solar panel or hand-cranked battery comes in handy), a tiny TV tuner connected to your device may still be able to grab nearby broadcast signals so you can stay up-to-date.
A few inexpensive USB-based TV tuners are available for certain Android phones and tablets, but are not supported on Apple devices. These products include the MyGica A.T.S.C. digital mobile TV tuner ($33 on Amazon) and the $70 GTMedia HDTV Mate A.T.S.C. 3.0 tuner stick. (A.T.S.C. stands for Advanced Television Systems Committee, the organization that develops standards for the U.S. digital broadcast technology.)
When shopping for tuners, read the manufacturer specifications and user reviews carefully. Some products may not work with Samsung gear or are not compatible in North America.
The MyGica TV tuner kit comes with two small antennas for signal reception. It requires the free PadTV HD app, available in the Google Play Store, as well as on the manufacturer’s site, and has mixed reviews. In tests on a Google Pixel 10 phone, the MyGica scanned and displayed several broadcast channels in the middle of Manhattan, including WNBC and WCBS, although stations with weaker signals were choppy or froze.
Using an antenna or an ad-supported service to watch TV may seem like a 20th-century throwback, but you’ll have plenty to view without breaking the bank.
J.D. Biersdorfer has been writing about consumer technology for The Times since 1998. She also creates the weekly interactive literary quiz for the Book Review and occasionally contributes reviews.
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