- FOX LOCAL streams FOX 7 Austin’s local programming free, 24/7.
- FOX network shows and NFL games are not on FOX LOCAL.
- An antenna is the only free option that carries everything each station airs.
Cutting cable in Austin does not mean giving up the 6 o’clock news. Between over-the-air TV and the stations’ own free streams, you can follow local news, weather and traffic without paying anyone. The trick is knowing which option carries what.
The quick answer
| Option | Cost | What you get | What you miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antenna | One-time purchase | Every station’s full schedule, live | Nothing, if reception is good |
| FOX LOCAL app (FOX 7) | Free | FOX 7 Austin’s local programming, 24/7 | FOX network shows, including NFL games |
| KXAN+ (KXAN) | Free | KXAN’s 24/7 stream | Check KXAN for what it carries |
| PBS app (Austin PBS) | Free; some content needs membership | Austin PBS programs | Some on-demand content without membership |
Option 1: FOX 7 on FOX LOCAL
FOX 7 Austin gives the clearest instructions of any Austin station. Its How to Stream page says FOX LOCAL is free 24/7 live streaming with breaking news, live video, weather forecasts, traffic reports and in-depth reporting, and that you can watch FOX 7’s locally produced programming live without cable or a TV provider. It is available on iPhone and Android and on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Android TV and Vizio TVs.
- Search your device’s app store for FOX LOCAL and install it.
- Open it; the app should detect your location and suggest FOX 7 Austin.
- If it does not, choose Select a Different City and pick FOX 7 Austin.
The station is explicit about one limit: FOX network programming, including NFL games, is not available on FOX LOCAL. For those you need an antenna or a paid service.
Option 2: KXAN+
KXAN, which describes itself as the Austin NBC affiliate, promotes KXAN+ as a 24/7 stream on its website. Like other station streams, it is built around news and local programming rather than the full network schedule, so check KXAN’s own page for current details and the devices it supports.
Tip: Install the apps for two or three stations, not just one. When a big story breaks, each station leads with different angles, and their weather teams map storms differently.
Option 3: Station websites and apps
Station websites and apps are another route to the news, often with push alerts for breaking stories and weather. FOX 7 also offers a weather app it calls the FOX 7 WAPP. Austin PBS points viewers to the PBS app; the station notes that some content requires a local station membership.
Option 4: An antenna
An antenna remains the only free option that carries everything a station airs: network shows, live sports and every newscast. If you have never set one up, The Best TV Antenna for Austin and the Hill Country walks through it, and Austin TV Channels: The Local Stations You Can Watch for Free lists the channels.
Spanish-language news
Univision 62 Austin covers local news in Spanish, and FOX 7 runs FOX 7 Español segments on its site. See Spanish-Language TV and Radio in Austin: Univision 62, KLQB and More.
When the internet goes out
Every streaming option depends on your internet connection, and severe storms in Central Texas can knock out power and internet at the same time. Keep a battery radio for those moments; Austin Weather and Storm Coverage: Flash Floods, Warnings and Weather Radio lists the stations and the NOAA Weather Radio frequency for Austin.
Which setup we would choose
For most households: an antenna for the main TV, the FOX LOCAL app or KXAN+ on a streaming device for background news, and one or two station apps with weather alerts turned on. It costs nothing after the antenna and covers both the evening news and the 2 a.m. storm warning.
Setting up FOX LOCAL on a TV
FOX 7 gives device-by-device steps. On Roku, go to Search, enter FOX LOCAL, choose Add Channel and then Go To Channel. On Amazon Fire TV, use the Find menu, search for FOX LOCAL, then Download and Open. On Apple TV, search the App Store for FOX LOCAL and download it. In each case the app should detect that you are in Austin; if it does not, use Select a Different City.
A note on sports
Local news streams are built around news. Network sports are a different matter: FOX 7 states that NFL games are not available on FOX LOCAL. Over the air, though, those same broadcasts come in free on an antenna. If football is the reason you are thinking about cable, try an antenna first; see The Best TV Antenna for Austin and the Hill Country.
Finally, think about who else uses the TV. A grandparent who only wants the evening news may be happiest with an antenna and a printed list of channels, while someone who keeps news on in the background all day may prefer a free 24/7 stream on a streaming device. You can set up both on the same TV.