You're sitting in a hotel room on the Strip, or maybe you're a local in Summerlin just trying to catch the news before the Golden Knights game starts. You pick up the remote. It's a mess. Between the Cox Cable lineup, Dish, DirecTV, and the weird over-the-air digital subchannels that broadcast everything from 1970s westerns to 24-hour jewelry auctions, finding the las vegas tv schedule is harder than hitting a jackpot on a penny slot.
Television in this town is weird.
Most people think of Vegas as a place where nobody sleeps, but for the 2.3 million people living in the Valley, the TV schedule is the backbone of the evening. It’s how we know when to avoid the 15 freeway and when the wind speeds are going to start knocking over patio furniture.
The Local Heavyweights: Who Owns Your Screen?
If you want the truth about what's playing, you have to know who is broadcasting. We aren’t just a "major market" in the traditional sense; we are a transient market. This means the las vegas tv schedule is packed with more local news than almost any other city of its size. Why? Because the shift workers at the Wynn or Caesars need their "morning" news at 4:00 PM.
KVVU (Fox 5) basically dominates the local morning and late-night vibes. They’ve leaned hard into the "Local. Las Vegas." branding. If you're looking for the schedule there, expect a lot of "More" (their lifestyle show) and heavy blocks of news. Then you have KLAS (Channel 8), the CBS affiliate. They’ve been around forever—literally the first station in Nevada. Their schedule is more traditional, rooted in the CBS prime-time powerhouse lineup like NCIS or Survivor, but their local sports coverage, especially with the Raiders, is a massive draw.
KTNV (Channel 13) is the ABC affiliate, and KSNV (Channel 3) handles NBC. KSNV is owned by Sinclair, so if you notice a specific "flavor" to their national news segments, that’s why.
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Breaking Down the Digital Subchannels
It’s not just the big four anymore. Honestly, the coolest part of the local airwaves is the digital "dot" channels. If you have an antenna—and you should, because the signals bounce off the mountains perfectly—you get access to stuff that isn't always on the basic cable grid.
- MeTV (Channel 3.3): This is where MASH* and The Andy Griffith Show live. It’s digital comfort food.
- Antenna TV: Usually found on a subchannel of 33 (VCY), it’s great for late-night Johnny Carson reruns.
- Cozi TV: Often found on 3.2, perfect for The Office marathons or Columbo.
Why Live Sports Upended the Las Vegas TV Schedule
Ten years ago, the only thing "Vegas" about the TV schedule was the occasional UNLV basketball game. Now? It’s a battleground.
The arrival of the Golden Knights changed everything. Scripps Sports now handles a lot of the heavy lifting for the Knights. If you’re looking for the game, you aren't just looking at the standard national ESPN schedule. You’re looking for Vegas 34 (KMCC). When the Knights moved their rights over to Scripps, it was a massive shift in how locals consume the las vegas tv schedule. It made the games free over-the-air. That’s huge. You don’t need a $100 cable bill to see Eichel and Stone; you just need a $20 antenna from Best Buy or Amazon.
The Raiders are a different beast. Since they are NFL, they follow the standard broadcast contracts. Most of their games land on KLAS (CBS) or KTNV (ABC/ESPN). But the "Vegas-ness" comes in the pre-game shows. Channel 8 pours an insane amount of money into "Raiders Tonight" and other ancillary programming that clogs the schedule during the fall. If you aren't a football fan, Sunday afternoons in Vegas on broadcast TV are basically a dead zone.
The Streaming Conflict: Does the Schedule Even Matter?
You might be thinking, "Who cares about a schedule? I have Netflix."
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Fair point. But in Vegas, streaming has a major flaw: blackout dates. If you use NHL.tv or NBA League Pass, you've probably realized that local games are blacked out. This forces you back to the linear las vegas tv schedule.
Cox Communications is the primary cable provider here. Their "Contour" guide is what most people use to navigate. However, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV have become incredibly popular in the Valley. They carry most of the locals (3, 5, 8, 13), but they often struggle with the smaller independent stations like KVCW (CW 33). If you’re looking for Penn & Teller: Fool Us (which is filmed at the Rio!), you need to make sure your streaming provider actually carries the local CW affiliate.
Time Zones and the "Vegas Delay"
One thing that trips up tourists and new residents is the Pacific Time Zone reality. Everything is delayed. When you see an ad for a show at "8/7 Central," that means it’s on at 8:00 PM in Vegas. But sometimes, for big live events like the Oscars or the Grammys, the stations will do a "Live Eastern" feed and then a "Tape Delay" for the West Coast.
You have to check the specific station's website or a dedicated listing service like TitanTV or TVGuide.com specifically set to a Las Vegas zip code (like 89101 or 89109) to be sure. Nothing ruins a night like logging onto X (Twitter) and seeing who won the Masked Singer an hour before it actually airs on Fox 5 Vegas.
How to Actually Find What’s On Right Now
Stop guessing. If you want the most accurate las vegas tv schedule, you need to use tools that filter out the noise.
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- Zap2It: This is the old-school favorite. You put in your zip code, select "Local Over the Air" or "Cox Digital," and it gives you a grid. It’s ugly, but it’s accurate.
- The Station Apps: Fox 5 Vegas and 8 News Now have surprisingly good apps. They don't just show the news; they often have the full daily schedule listed so you know when the syndicated stuff like Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune hits. (By the way, Wheel and Jeopardy are on Channel 8 here, starting at 7:00 PM).
- On-Screen Guides: If you're in a hotel, the "Guide" button on the remote is often a lie. Hotel systems (like those at MGM properties) use a proprietary "head-end" system. Channel 3 in your room might not actually be KSNV. Usually, there is a printed channel map near the desk. Look for it.
Common Misconceptions About Vegas TV
I hear this a lot: "Vegas TV is all about gambling."
Not really. While we do have "The Vegas Sports Grid" and some specialized betting shows on late at night (usually on the smaller independent stations), the las vegas tv schedule is remarkably family-oriented during the day. We have a massive population of retirees and families who just want to watch The Price is Right.
Another myth is that we get "special" access to shows because they are filmed here. Nope. Whether it's Hacks on Max or CSI (the various iterations), we see them at the same time as everyone else. The only difference is the local news will usually do a "behind the scenes" segment at the actual filming location on Fremont Street or at a local warehouse.
Navigating the 2026 TV Landscape in Nevada
As we move further into 2026, the "NextGen TV" (ATSC 3.0) rollout is hitting Vegas hard. This is a broadcast standard that allows for 4K over-the-air and more interactive features. KSNV and KVCW were early adopters here. If you have a newer TV, you might notice the las vegas tv schedule looking a lot crisper on those channels. It also means more "targeted" ads. Don't be surprised if the TV knows you’re in Henderson and shows you an ad for a car dealership on Boulder Highway while your friend in North Las Vegas sees an ad for a taqueria on Craig Road.
Actionable Steps for the Best Viewing Experience
Don't just channel surf. It’s a waste of time and your thumb will get tired.
- Buy a Mohu Leaf or similar flat antenna. Stick it in a window facing the towers (which are mostly located on Black Mountain in Henderson). You will get 50+ channels for free.
- Set your DVR for "New Episodes Only." Local stations love to shuffle their afternoon schedules. Judge Judy might be at 4:00 PM one month and 3:00 PM the next.
- Download the "News 8" and "Fox 5" apps. They are the most reliable for local breaking news and weather alerts that interrupt regular programming.
- Check the "Vegas 34" schedule. If you’re a sports fan, this is non-negotiable now. It’s the home of the Knights and often features other local sporting events that get ignored by the big networks.
The las vegas tv schedule isn't just a list of shows; it’s a reflection of a 24-hour city trying to live a 9-to-5 life. Whether you’re catching the news before a graveyard shift or winding down after a day at Red Rock, knowing where to look makes all the difference. Turn on the TV, find your channel, and enjoy the show. It’s much cheaper than the blackjack tables.