Wondering how to get local channels with Starlink? The answer is not what you expect.
Starlink is an internet-only service, and you cannot use your satellite dish to acquire channels to stream on your equipment.
Well, when you have an internet connection, streaming any channel is easy, and in this guide, we’ll go over all possible ways to stream channels over the internet.
To stream local channels with Starlink internet, you must first set up your Starlink dish, remove the obstructions, and start receiving internet. With an internet connection from Starlink, you can stream local channels through their store apps or an online browser.
Let’s unwrap everything!
Starlink Vs. Satellite TV/Cable
Starlink is not a television service. You will not be able to receive local channels, but you will have an internet connection.
The Starlink internet comes from the dish via the service cable and connects to your router, which can host a WiFi network or supply a device via an Ethernet cable.
In contrast, with satellite TV services, you will have a coax cable from your dish, which you can connect to a satellite receiver (TV box) and then receive local channels.
However, many TV providers do not supply internet and only TV, and in our opinion, having internet is way better.
Does Starlink Have TV Channels?
Unfortunately, no. Starlink does not supply a TV receiver to connect to the dish because Starlink satellite communication does not provide TV services.
With the Starlink internet service, you can watch many free and paid TV channels by downloading apps or using a web browser to stream.
There are a couple of ways to watch TV channels with Starlink:
- Download any free or paid channel apps.
- Use an online browser to stream live TV.
- Access online channels through the web.
- Download shows from apps for streaming.
Remember that with an internet connection, you can enjoy any channel you want using the application or a web browser.
These channels include Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, and many more…
How to Get Local Channels with Starlink?
Note: The method below will help you stream local channels with Starlink Internet, where you don’t need a TV receiver, DVR, or any cable box.
1. Download Local Channel Applications!
The first and perhaps the easiest method to get local channels with Starlink is to download apps from the content store of your device.
For this purpose, you must have your device connected to the Starlink router to receive an internet connection and be able to download the channel apps!
Simply download apps from the content store of your device!
Here is the content store you must use, as per the operating system:
- iOS/macOS – On mobile or a computer, download apps from the App Store.
- Android – On a mobile or smart TV, download apps from the Google Play Store.
- Firestick – On any Fire TV, download apps from the Amazon Content Store.
- Roku – On Roku, add streaming channels from the “Streaming Channels” tab.
- Windows – On Windows, you can use the Microsoft Store to download apps.
You can download any paid or free channel app when connected to the Starlink internet by accessing your device’s content store.
Then, you can stream on-demand content or live TV through the app using your Starlink internet connection.
Warning: A smooth stream might be impossible with 5% Starlink dish obstruction or more!
2. Stream Local Channels From the Web!
With Starlink Internet, you have complete access to the web and online environment, which allows the user to stream live TV content for free.
You will discover an online source of your national television channels broadcast on the web, which you can access and stream.
You only need a web browser-enabled device connected to Starlink!
This device could be anything from a computer or console to a smartphone as long as there is an online browser.
The second requirement is to be connected to the Starlink internet via WiFi or direct (wired) connection via Ethernet cable to the Starlink WiFi router.
Are OVA Local Channels on the Web?
Maybe. There are many third-party sources from which you can live stream the national service channels, but it’s not guaranteed that you can discover them.
We recommend first checking whether Google can help you find them; if not, check the app store for dedicated software.
Note: You can use any browser for online channel streaming, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Netscape Navigator.
3. Stream Online – Paid & Free Channels!
If you still wonder how do I get local channels with Starlink, you’ll like the following method!
In fact, with an internet connection, Starlink or not, you can stream online channels from their official website.
Quite a few applications do not provide an online source, but most can be accessed through a web browser and streamed entirely via an internet connection (no service).
Here are some official sources to stream channels from:
- https://www.youtube.com/
- https://hulu.com/
- https://www.netflix.com/
- https://www.disneyplus.com/
- https://www.peacocktv.com/
- https://www.hbomax.com/
You can access these streaming services from your computer or phone if you’re connected to the Starlink internet.
From there, you must sign into your account and stream anything you find interesting and entertaining.
Tip: These sources also have mobile or smart TV apps, so you can also enjoy these channels from any device with an app content store.
4. Download the App’s Content Locally!
In case you didn’t know, many applications, such as Netflix, Disney, and YouTube, allow users to download content locally on the streaming device.
The only requirement for downloading is, of course, the internet connection, which, with Starlink, you have guaranteed.
When streaming from an app that supports downloading content, you will see a “Download” button, typically an icon with an arrow pointing down.
Another thing to pay attention to when downloading content is the local storage on your device, which will be consumed to store the shows.
So, there will be a limit regarding how many shows you can download, but the process will go smoothly as long as you have an internet connection.
Info: The downloaded TV shows and movies can be streamed entirely without the internet!
Why Starlink Doesn’t Have Local Channels?
When we hear “satellite” connection, we typically imagine scanning for local channels, but this is not the case with Starlink.
Sadly, with Starlink, you can’t scan and discover channels to add to your TV guide, even if you have a receiver box lying around.
However, nowadays, having the internet is everything you need.
With access to the web and the available streaming apps, there is pretty much nothing you can’t watch.
The Starlink internet service can entirely replace your cable/satellite TV and fill in with on-demand shows and live TV.
Do I Need Cable TV with Starlink?
Well, whether you need an additional subscription from a TV service provider is entirely up to you.
Starlink can only provide you with a satellite internet connection, but if you want to have a TV service and use a receiver, you can always subscribe to a TV service.
When doing so, you would want to subscribe to a standalone TV cable service, considering that you already have internet from Starlink.
On the other hand, by using the Starlink internet only, you can get your hands on almost every show once it has been aired, so it’s up to you to decide.
Replacing Cable TV with Starlink?
If you have an internet connection at home, you can compare having only TV service versus having an internet connection.
So, if you have mobile data on your phone to browse the web, you can check whether you have alternative access to all TV shows you stream on cable TV.
If you can access everything from the internet, you can completely replace your TV service with Starlink Internet and move on.
However, if you cannot access the content promptly or whenever you want, you may need to hold on to your TV service and subscribe to Starlink additionally.
Info: For any further questions, feel free to contact Starlink Support!
Quick Recap:
How to get local channels with Starlink? You cannot connect your dish to a receiver to scan and discover local channels since Starlink is only an internet service.
The only way to stream local channels with Starlink is through channel apps or web live TV streaming.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.