
Roku’s free, ad-supported streaming service The Roku Channel is adding dozens of local content streams from television stations owned by CBS and Fox.
The channels are franchised from CBS-owned local news streams available on Pluto TV, and news content streams from Fox Television Stations available through Tubi.
The addition of the stations comes several months after The Roku Channel offered eight local news streams from ABC-owned stations and around a dozen news streams from NBC-owned local stations across the country.
With the addition of the CBS and Fox local news streams, The Roku Channel becomes the first free, ad-supported streaming service to offer local news streams from stations owned by all four major broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
The new local news streams added to The Roku Channel this week include:
- CBS News (national feed)
- CBS News Baltimore (WJZ-TV news simulcast)
- CBS News Bay Area (KPIX news simulcast)
- CBS News Boston (WBZ-TV news simulcast)
- CBS News Chicago (WBBM news simulcast)
- CBS News Colorado (KCNC news simulcast)
- CBS News Detroit (WWJ-TV news simulcast)
- CBS News Los Angeles (KCBS/KCAL news simulcast)
- CBS News Miami (WFOR news simulcast)
- CBS News Minnesota (WCCO news simulcast)
- CBS News New York (WCBS news simulcast)
- CBS News Pittsburgh (KDKA news simulcast)
- CBS News Sacramento (KOVR/KMAX news simulcast)
- CBS News Texas (KTVT news simulcast)
- Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK news simulcast)
- Fox 2 Oakland (KTVU news simulcast)
- Fox 4 Dallas (KDFW news simulcast)
- Fox 5 Atlanta (WAGA news simulcast)
- Fox 5 New York (WNYW news simulcast)
- Fox 5 Washington (WTTG news simulcast)
- Fox 6 Milwaukee (WITI news simulcast)
- Fox 7 Austin (KTBC news simulcast)
- Fox 9 Minneapolis (KMSP news simulcast)
- Fox 10 Phoenix (KSAZ news simulcast)
- Fox 11 Los Angeles (KTTV news simulcast)
- Fox 13 Seattle (KCPQ news simulcast)
- Fox 26 Houston (KRIV news simulcast)
- Fox 29 Philadelphia (WTXF news simulcast)
- Fox 32 Chicago (WFLD news simulcast)
- Fox 35 Orlando (WOFL news simulcast)
(Note: The CBS News feeds are only available on The Roku Channel through Roku devices, and not The Roku Channel apps for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV/Google TV)
The CBS and Fox streams added to The Roku Channel only provide local (and, sometimes, national) news programming, along with some locally-produced original series. The channels don’t include syndicated shows like “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy” or CBS and Fox prime-time programming — that still requires a streaming cable alternative like Fubo or DirecTV Stream to watch.
The channels also seem to be concentrated in major metropolitan areas, which makes sense because that is where large broadcast networks typically own the stations. Which means, if you live in a major city like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas or San Francisco, you have no shortage of local news streams through The Roku Channel, but if you live somewhere else, you might need to look to another streaming service.
The good news is, there are a number of free streaming services that offer local news content beyond major metropolitan areas. STIRR and NewsOn (both owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group) includes dozens of free streaming news channels from mid-size and small, rural areas. Local Now, owned by Allen Media Group, more than 100 content streams from local news broadcasters along with most major PBS member stations (some of whom also produce local news and community interest programs).
Like The Roku Channel, the three suggestions above are all available as free apps through the Roku Channel Store on supported Roku devices and most newer-model Roku TV sets.