You’re sitting on the couch, remote in hand, wondering why on earth it’s so hard to find the 6 o'clock news. You pay for Amazon Prime. You see thousands of movies. You see "Thursday Night Football." But where is the local NBC affiliate? Or the weather guy you've watched for ten years? Honestly, the answer to does amazon prime have local channels isn't a simple yes or no. It’s more of a "yes, but there’s a catch."
If you’re looking for a one-click button that opens up a live, 24/7 stream of your local ABC, CBS, or FOX station just because you have a Prime membership, you’re going to be disappointed. It doesn't work like cable. But, as of early 2026, Amazon has changed the game quite a bit with a massive news rollout and some clever add-on workarounds.
The New Reality: Free Local News (The Good Part)
Amazon finally got the memo that people hate switching apps just to see the local forecast. Late in 2025, they launched a massive "News" hub directly inside the Prime Video app. This is probably the closest you’ll get to "local channels" without paying an extra dime.
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This hub is built into the top navigation bar. If you look at your Prime Video home screen, you’ll see a tab labeled News. Inside, Amazon has aggregated over 200 channels. We aren't just talking national stuff like ABC News Live or CNN Headlines. They’ve actually pulled in local news feeds from major markets across the U.S.
Kinda cool, right?
But here is the nuance: these aren't the full local channels. You get the news broadcasts, the weather updates, and sometimes local community specials. You do not get the primetime sitcoms, the daytime soaps, or the NFL games that usually air on those local networks. It’s a "news-only" version of your local station.
How to Get the "Real" Local Channels on Prime
If you want the full experience—meaning the local commercials, the Sunday morning talk shows, and the primetime lineup—you have to open your wallet. Amazon Prime acts as a "hub" for other services.
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- Paramount+ is the CBS Cheat Code. If you subscribe to the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan through Amazon Channels, you get a live stream of your local CBS affiliate. It’s right there in the Prime app. This is the most seamless way to get at least one major local network.
- The NBC / Peacock Situation.
You can add Peacock as a subscription within Prime Video now. While the base tier gives you a lot of NBC content, the "Premium Plus" version is what usually unlocks that live local NBC feed. - The FOX and ABC Hurdle.
These are the tricky ones. Amazon has a "FOX LOCAL" app integration, but for the full, live national-affiliate experience, you often have to look toward third-party "skinny bundles" like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. You can download those apps onto your Fire TV, but they don't live inside the Prime Video interface the same way Paramount+ does.
Why Fire TV Changes the Conversation
If you are watching Prime Video on an Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Fire TV Cube, your options for local channels explode. It’s not technically "inside" the Prime Video app, but it’s all the same ecosystem.
Honestly, the best way to get locals for free is still an antenna.
You can buy a cheap $20 digital antenna, plug it into your TV, and if you have a Fire TV built-in or a (now discontinued but still supported) Fire TV Recast, those channels show up right in your "Live" guide. Amazon actually integrates these over-the-air signals into the same menu where your Prime movies live. It makes the "does amazon prime have local channels" question feel irrelevant because your TV just merges everything together.
The Secret "FAST" Channels
You might have noticed a row in your Prime app called "Free With Ads" or "Live TV." Amazon owns a service called Freevee (formerly IMDb TV). This service is packed with "FAST" channels—Free Ad-supported Streaming TV.
They have specific channels for:
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- Local Now: This is a localized weather and news loop that is surprisingly accurate.
- PBS Kids: Many local PBS stations offer their kids' programming for free here.
- NewsON: An app you can grab that specifically streams local news from around the country.
It’s a bit of a patchwork quilt. You’ve got the Prime news hub for the 24/7 cycle, Freevee for the random local-ish content, and paid add-ons like Paramount+ for the heavy-duty local broadcasting.
Is It Worth It?
If you're a cord-cutter, trying to get local channels through Prime Video alone is a bit of a headache. You're better off using Prime for the news and the "Thursday Night Football" exclusives, then supplementing with a digital antenna or a dedicated live TV service.
Amazon is clearly trying to become the "one app to rule them all," but the licensing rights for local affiliates are a mess. CBS is easy because they own their streaming platform. ABC and FOX are much more protective of their local ties.
Basically, you can get about 60% of what you want for free through the new News hub. For the other 40%, you’re looking at a $10–$15 monthly add-on or a piece of hardware.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to see what’s available for you right now:
- Open the Prime Video app and look for the "News" tab at the very top. Scroll down to see if your specific city is listed under the "Local News" row.
- Check the "Live" tab on your Fire TV home screen. If you have an antenna connected, run a channel scan in the settings to pull those local stations into your Amazon guide.
- Browse the "Channels" section in Prime Video. Look for the Paramount+ or Peacock trials if you specifically need a live NBC or CBS feed for a game or a series finale this weekend.