Smart TVs are redefining home entertainment with their new supply of high-quality content and graphics.
Like smartphones or tablets, they possess great features suitable for modern viewers, from the Internet, Bluetooth, and WI-FI connectivity to multiple advanced antennas compatibility, powerful processors, and user-friendly software.
They are designed to offer video-on-demand services or external connectivity; they provide local content from various sources such as antennas, cables, apps and also stream them live on the internet.
Although the Smart TV requires a subscription to access its top content, they provide free-to-air services that require zero subscriptions.
Free to air services
Free to air (FTA) are free contents or services provided by the broadcasters in which no fee or subscriptions are expected.
Below are the probable questions you may want to ask about free to air services on Smart TV:
Does Smart TV have free-to-air channels?
Smart TVs have free-to-air channels, albeit not all. For example, Samsung, Hisense, and LG smart TVs have 100s of free-to-air channels that a user can select from.
How do I get free-to-air channels on my smart TV?
To get free to air channels on the smart TV, you must have set up your antenna or over-the-air channels in the initial setup before taking the following steps:
- Go to the home menu, navigate to the source icon on the far left, and select TV from the secondary menu.
- Connect your antenna to the RF connector behind the TV and select ‘Channel Scan.’
- Select your source of the channel (air, cable, or both)
- Scan for Channels to reveal the channels available for free
- Scroll through the free available channels.
- Start watching live TV.
Use the Channel guide to access the live TV options
What Channels are free on Smart TV?
There are several free channels on the smart TV, although they are products specific. For example, the Samsung TV plus has hundreds of free exciting channels in different categories
(News and Opinion, Entertainment, Crime, Game shows, Food, Home and Travel, Reality, Kids, Science, etc.).
They include; CBSN, ABC News live, Bloomberg TV+ UHD, Cheddar News, Crime 360, Law and Crime, Forensic files, Fear factor, Bon Appetit, America’s Test Kitchen, MTV Pluto TV, Love, and Hip Hop, Spikes, Sony Canal Novelas, The LEGo Channel, Xplore and lots more.
The LG smart TV also delivers hundreds of free channels, including; laws and crime, Newsmax TV, CBC News, cheddar news, fail army, free comedy tv, comedy dynamics, the Johnny Carson show, lol! Network etc
Can you watch regular TV on a smart TV?
You can watch a regular TV on a smart TV since most smart TVs have the advanced television committee (ATSC) tuner suitable for over-the-air digital broadcast.
However, you will need an antenna since the stations are on the same frequency bands like the older analog stations.
The only limitation is that additional features like pause, stop, or record may not be possible until more equipment is added.
Does a Smart TV need an antenna?
A smart TV does not need an antenna since it has a built-in antenna, except for free-to-air channels for which an antenna is a non-negotiable attachment. Paid network TV channels and the internet are already built into the TV.
Do any smart TVs have built-in antennas?
Smart TVs have built-in antennas that are used to connect to the home network and internet connection. The antennas only connect the TV over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The built-in antennas cannot connect to local channels, except an external antenna is attached to it or streamed on the internet.
Does a smart TV need an antenna for local channels?
The Smart TV needs an antenna for local channels because they are the oldest way of connecting to the air.
This antenna collects the signals available in the air to broadcast it.
Because the Smart TV requires a paid subscription, the antenna is always necessary to watch free local channels, although some are on the list of the cable channels.
There are other ways to connect to the local channels, but the antenna is the most popular one.
An antenna will improve the signal of your smart TV since the cable compresses local programming before they are transmitted.
Antennas work best when placed in high areas such as rooftops and with minimal obstructions. If you don’t have a cable TV subscription, you need an antenna to watch your local channels.
Do smart TVs pick up local channels?
Smart TV picks up Local channels without hindrance. The smart TV services and features, cable or satellite service, will continue to receive service from their stations.
You can watch local channels through cable or satellite services or get an antenna to receive broadcasts from local channels without any hitch.
Can you watch free-to-air on Smart TV without an antenna?
You cannot watch free-to-air channels on Smart TV without an antenna. However, you may choose to watch the free-to-air by streaming live, and this does not require an antenna nor a cable subscription plan but internet connectivity.
The best antenna to go for since you can’t want to watch free to air programmes should be High Definition Digital TV Antenna.
Is Netflix free on a smart TV?
Netflix is not free on the smart TV, and it is a subscription service paid for monthly. Although Netflix has an app that is free to download, it requires a subscription fee to access it.
The price of the subscription fee is tailored according to the service being rendered.
What is the best app for watching free TV?
Many impressive apps offer free-to-air service on Smart TV; you will pick the one that best suit you since they do not all serve the same purpose.
The lists are not limited to; Twitch, Xumo, Imdb TV, Youtube, News on, Crunchy roll, Peacock, Pbs Kids, Pluto TV, Funny or die, Crackle, Pluto TV, Tubi TV.
Which antenna is best for my Smart TV?
Any High Definition Digital TV Antenna is suitable for your Smart TV since the goal is to connect to your local free to air channel, although there are varieties in their qualities and functions.
The location is also essential when choosing an antenna for the Smart TV, although the quality matters a lot. If you seek quality over anything, the High-Definition digital TV may be perfect for you.
Reference:
https://corp.xumo.com/lg-channel-plus/
https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/tvplus/all-channels/
https://theconchtech.com/smart-tv/does-a-smart-tv-really-need-an-antenna-for-local-channels/