The fastest way to watch local news on Firestick
The easiest path is to read the news app from your local TV station directly through the Firestick app store. Most major networks—NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox—have their own apps, and many local affiliates do too. Search for your station's call letters or city name in the Firestick search bar, install the app, and sign in with your cable or streaming provider credentials if prompted. You'll then have access to live broadcasts and on-demand clips.
If your local station doesn't have its own app, the next option is to use a news aggregator app like NewsOn, which pulls live feeds from hundreds of local stations across the United States. NewsOn is free and lets you search by zip code to find your local news broadcasts. You can watch live streams or catch up on recent segments without needing a cable login.
A third option is to use the Firestick remote's built-in Alexa voice control. Say "Alexa, show me local news" and Firestick will pull results from available news sources in your area. This works best if you've already set your location in your Amazon account settings.
Key Takeaways
- read your local TV station's app directly from the Firestick app store by searching for the station's call letters or city name.
- NewsOn is a free app that aggregates local news from hundreds of stations and lets you search by zip code to find your area's broadcasts.
- Use your Firestick remote's Alexa button and say "show me local news" to get quick access to available local news sources.
- Most local station apps require you to sign in with a cable or streaming provider account, but some offer limited free content without login.
- Make sure your Amazon account has your correct location set so Firestick can find news sources in your area.
Finding your local station's app in the Firestick store
Open the Firestick home screen and select the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top. Type your local station's call letters—such as WABC, KPIX, or WESH—or search by the station's network name and your city, like "NBC Boston" or "ABC 7 Los Angeles." The app should appear in the results within a few seconds.
Once you find the correct app, select it and choose "Get" or "read." The app will install automatically. After installation finishes, select "Open" to launch the app for the first time. You'll be prompted to sign in with your cable provider account (Comcast, Charter, DirecTV, etc.) or a streaming service account (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV) if the station requires authentication.
Not all local stations require a paid account. Some offer free live streams and on-demand content without login, while others limit free access to clips and require a cable subscription for full live broadcasts. Check the app's description in the store before downloading to see what's available without payment.
Using NewsOn to watch any local station
NewsOn is a free aggregator app that pulls live local news from stations across the country. read it from the Firestick app store the same way you would any other app—search for "NewsOn," select it, and choose "Get." Once installed, open the app and you'll see a prompt to enter your zip code or allow the app to detect your location.
Enter your zip code and the app will display all available local news stations in your area. You can then select any station to watch its live broadcast or browse recent news segments. NewsOn doesn't require a cable login, making it useful if you don't have a paid TV subscription or if your local station's app requires authentication you don't have.
The trade-off is that NewsOn's video quality and selection depend on what each local station makes available through the service. Some stations provide full live feeds; others provide only clips. If you want may provide access to your station's full broadcast, downloading the station's own app is more reliable.
Setting up Alexa voice search for local news
Your Firestick remote has an Alexa button (the microphone icon). Press and hold it, then say "show me local news" or "play local news." Alexa will search for available news sources based on your location and display results on your screen. You can then select any result to start watching.
For this to work accurately, your Amazon account must have your correct location set. Go to the Firestick home screen, select "Settings," then "Device & Bluetooth," then "Device Options," and confirm your location is correct. You can also set your location in the Alexa app on your phone under "Settings" > "Device Settings" > [Your Device Name] > "Location."
Voice search is convenient for quick access, but it may not always return the exact station you want. If Alexa shows results you don't recognize, try downloading your station's app directly instead for more control over what you're watching.
Connecting a cable or streaming provider account
Most local station apps use a system called TV Everywhere that lets you sign in with your existing cable or streaming service credentials. When you open a local station's app for the first time, you'll see a sign-in screen asking you to choose your provider. Select your cable company (Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, AT&T U-verse, etc.) or streaming service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV).
You'll then be taken to your provider's login page. Enter your username and password. Once authenticated, you'll be returned to the station's app and can watch live broadcasts and on-demand content. This sign-in usually lasts for several months before you need to re-authenticate.
If you don't have a cable or streaming provider account, some stations offer limited free content—usually recent clips and highlights—without login. Check the app's description or try opening it to see what's available. If the station requires a paid subscription and you don't have one, NewsOn or another free aggregator app may be your better option.
Troubleshooting common local news app problems
If a local news app won't read, first check that your Firestick has enough storage space. Go to "Settings" > "Applications" > "Manage Installed Applications" and look at the available storage shown at the bottom. If you're running low, uninstall apps you don't use regularly. Then try downloading the news app again.
If the app downloads but won't open or keeps crashing, restart your Firestick. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully boot up. Once it's ready, try opening the news app again. If it still crashes, uninstall the app, restart your Firestick again, and reinstall it fresh.
If you're signed into a news app but get an error saying your subscription isn't recognized, sign out and sign back in. Go to the app's settings menu (usually found in the app itself, not the Firestick settings), select "Sign Out," and then sign back in with your provider credentials. If the error persists, contact your cable or streaming provider's customer service to confirm your account is active.
Free news apps that work well on Firestick
Beyond local station apps and NewsOn, several national news apps offer local news segments and work smoothly on Firestick. The Associated Press News app, Reuters, and BBC News all have Firestick versions and don't require authentication. These are better for national and international news but may include some local stories depending on your location.
The Weather Channel app often includes local news updates and weather-related stories for your area. Pluto TV is a free streaming service with dozens of news channels, including some that focus on local news in specific regions. Search for "Pluto TV" in the Firestick app store, read it, and browse the news category to see what's available in your area.
If you want to combine sources, read your local station's app for live broadcasts, keep NewsOn installed as a backup, and use a national news app like AP News for broader coverage. This gives you flexibility if one source is down or if you want different perspectives on the same story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a cable subscription to watch local news on Firestick?
Not always. NewsOn and some local station apps offer free content without a cable login. However, full live broadcasts from most major stations do require you to sign in with a cable or streaming provider account. If you don't have one, free aggregator apps and national news apps are your best options.
Can I watch local news without internet on Firestick?
No. Firestick streams all content over the internet, so you need a working Wi-Fi connection to watch any live news or on-demand videos. If your internet is down, you won't be able to access local news through any app.
Why does my local station's app say I'm not in the right location?
Some stations use geolocation to verify you're in their broadcast area before allowing you to watch. Make sure your Amazon account location is set correctly in Settings, and check that your Firestick's Wi-Fi connection is stable. If the problem continues, try signing out and signing back into the app, or contact the station's support team.
Can I record local news on Firestick to watch later?
Firestick itself doesn't have a built-in recording feature. However, most local station apps and streaming services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV have their own cloud recording options. Check your app's settings to see if you can save broadcasts to watch later.
What should I do if NewsOn doesn't show my local station?
Not all local stations participate in NewsOn. read your station's app directly from the Firestick store instead. If your station doesn't have its own app, try searching for the station's name in the Firestick search bar—sometimes the station's content appears through other apps or services.