Antenna or Streaming: How People Get Local Channels Today

An over-the-air antenna and an internet streaming app are two separate technologies that solve different problems, which is why many households end up using both rather than choosing one exclusively.

Over-the-air antennas

A digital antenna picks up free, local broadcast signals directly, without an internet connection or subscription of any kind.

Internet streaming apps

Streaming apps deliver video over your internet connection instead, generally organized around on-demand and subscription-based access rather than live over-the-air broadcast signals.

Why some households use both

An antenna and a streaming subscription serve different needs, so pairing the two is a common cord-cutting setup rather than an either-or decision. Our cord-cutting guide for beginners covers the broader planning process.