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:

  • Turn on the TV and open the home screen from the remote.
  • Navigate to source from the app bar on the home screen.
  • Press the Up button from the remote and select television.
  • 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.
  • Select Channel Scan from the options on-screen.
  • Select the signal source (Air, Cable, etc.). Because you are using an antenna, it will be Air.
  • Press Enter on the relevant source to start scanning for channels.
  • 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:

  • Press the Home button to open the home screen.
  • Select Apps and then select the Search in the top right.
  • Type in the app you want to get and press on Install.
  • 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:

  • Ensure that the TV and the cable/satellite box are off.
  • Plug an HDMI cable in the HDMI OUT port of the external device.
  • Connect the other end of the cable to an empty port on your Samsung smart TV.
  • 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.