Roku device and local channels

[strep3241]

Not sure if this is best place to post this but here goes. I have an Roku ultra streaming device to watch news, weather, shows and movies without buying any subscriptions. Now I am new to the streaming world. I thought I would be able to watch live local channels but apparently can't without a subscription to some service. I did find one local channel that does the news live but only news at certain times. Now I know I can get an antenna to get several local channels for free, just cost of antenna. But this is the part I don't understand. Why aren't local channels available for free on streaming devices? Where I work at, they have roku and use youtubetv and they get all the local channels as well as many others. But I didn't realize that youtubetv costs $50 a month.

 

[shortylickens]

It takes time and effort and servers to make "free" TV available on the internet. Bandwidth isnt free.
For that matter, broadcast RF isnt free either, but TV stations eat the cost because of ad sponsors.
On the internet, you either need to watch ads, or pay for something.
Or pirate. But piracy catches up with you. Use a paid VPN.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Pretty much what short said above. Irritating but true. There are some free (ad supported) channels that offer basic cable like experience.
For local news we just use the antenna. Sort of pain in the ass to change the TV mode then deal with the volume being too low and forgetting then being shocked by amazon primes volume.
Streaming is the way to go in my opinion because it is a fair deal and closest thing to a’la carte TV we have all been asking for, plus when you want to remove a channel it’s all on a web account simply push cancel, very easy, no call in drama, no BS like you’re so important to us we’ll give you six months free.....a-Hole if I was that important you would have gave it to me without me asking.