Television in the Crescent City is different. It’s not just about flipping through a menu to find a rerun of a sitcom you’ve seen six times already. In New Orleans, local TV is the lifeline for hurricane tracking, the heartbeat of Carnival season, and the only place where you’ll see a morning news anchor eating a crawfish hand-pie at 7:00 AM. If you’ve just moved to Mid-City or you're trying to figure out why your digital antenna isn't picking up the game, navigating the new orleans channel guide can feel like trying to find a specific tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 without a map.
The landscape has changed. It used to be that you just had your "Big Three" and a few others. Now? You’ve got Cox, Spectrum, AT&T U-verse, YouTube TV, and a dozen "sub-channels" that broadcast everything from 1970s detective shows to 24-hour weather loops.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of.
The Major Players in the New Orleans Channel Guide
When people talk about the local guide, they’re usually looking for the heavy hitters. These are the stations that have been around since your grandma was watching "The Popeye and Pals" show.
WWL-TV (Channel 4) is the CBS affiliate. It’s arguably the most famous station in the region, known for its deep investigative reporting and long-standing dominance in the ratings. If you’re looking for "Eyewitness News," this is it. On most cable providers, it stays at channel 4, but if you’re using a digital antenna, you might find its digital sub-channels like True Crime Network or Quest on 4.2 and 4.3.
WDSU (Channel 6) carries the NBC banner. They’ve been a staple of the New Orleans market since 1948. People tend to stick with WDSU for their weather coverage, especially when Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr was at the helm—though the team continues that legacy of being hyper-focused on the Gulf. On the digital side, 6.2 often carries MeTV, which is a goldmine for anyone who misses The Andy Griffith Show.
Then there’s WVUE-TV (Channel 8), the FOX affiliate. Locally known as "Fox 8," this station has a bit of a gritty, hard-hitting reputation, especially with their "Zurik Knows" segments. They handle a ton of the local sports broadcasting, which is crucial during Saints season. If the Saints are playing on a Sunday afternoon, chances are you’re looking for Channel 8.
WGNO (Channel 26) is the ABC affiliate. They’ve rebranded themselves a few times over the years, often leaning into the "God Bless Louisiana" vibe. Their news is a bit more lifestyle-oriented compared to the stiff-upper-lip style of WWL.
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What Happened to Channel 38?
You might remember WNOL-TV (Channel 38) as the WB or UPN back in the day. Now it’s the CW affiliate. It’s where you go for The Flash or whatever teen drama is currently trending, but it also carries some local programming and syndicated comedies. For cord-cutters, it's usually found clearly on a scan, but cable providers sometimes bury it in the higher digits if you aren't paying for a specific HD tier.
Navigating Cable vs. Over-the-Air (OTA)
The channel number you see on the screen isn't always the number on your remote. This is the biggest headache with the new orleans channel guide.
If you use a digital antenna—which, by the way, is a great idea in New Orleans because the terrain is flat and signals travel well—you are getting the "virtual" channel. WWL is 4.1. WDSU is 6.1. But if you have Cox Cable, those stations might be grouped together in the 1000s for HD quality.
Cox is the dominant provider in Orleans Parish. Their "Starter" package usually covers the locals, but the lineup gets messy once you start adding sports packs. For instance, Bally Sports New Orleans (soon to be rebranded/restructured frequently) is the place for Pelicans games. Finding that in the guide is a chore because it’s not a broadcast station; you won't find it with an antenna. You need a subscription.
Spectrum handles parts of the Northshore and Jefferson Parish. Their guide is structured differently, often putting the local access channels (the ones showing parish council meetings and high school sports) in the low double-digits.
The PBS Situation
Don’t forget WYES (Channel 12) and WLAE (Channel 32). New Orleans is lucky to have two distinct PBS stations. WYES is the heavy lifter for national PBS content like Frontline and Antiques Roadshow, but they also produce incredible local documentaries about New Orleans history. WLAE often leans into more educational and religious-adjacent programming, reflecting the city’s Catholic roots. If you’re scanning with an antenna, make sure your signal is strong enough to catch 32; it can be a bit finicky depending on where your house is located in relation to the towers in Gretna or Chalmette.
Why the Guide Matters During Hurricane Season
In New Orleans, the TV guide isn't for entertainment; it's a survival tool. From June to November, knowing exactly where your favorite meteorologist is located is a ritual.
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When the power goes out, many people switch to battery-powered digital TVs. This is where the new orleans channel guide for OTA signals becomes vital.
- WWL (4.1): Known for long-form storm tracking.
- WDSU (6.1): Excellent radar technology.
- FOX 8 (8.1): Usually the first to "go wall-to-wall" with coverage.
- WHLP (various): Low-power stations that might stay on when others flicker.
Most locals have a "weather strategy." You might watch one station for the track and another for the local flooding updates. Understanding the sub-channels is a pro move. For example, some stations will broadcast a constant loop of their radar on their .2 or .3 digital sub-channel, which is much more useful than watching a talk show when a thunderstorm is dumping four inches of rain on your street.
Streaming the New Orleans Lineup
The "guide" isn't just a physical list anymore. It's an app.
If you’ve ditched cable for YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV, you’ll get most of the New Orleans locals. However, there’s often a catch with PBS or certain independent stations like WGCB.
YouTube TV is generally considered the best for New Orleans locals because it includes WWL, WDSU, WVUE, and WGNO in their base package. Fubo is better for sports fans who need that regional sports network for the Pelicans, but it’s pricier.
If you just want the news and don't care about Wheel of Fortune, almost every major New Orleans station has a free streaming app (like "News ON" or their individual "6 On Your Side" apps). You can watch the live news broadcasts for free without a cable subscription or even an antenna. It's a game-changer for people living in apartment buildings with poor reception.
Common Misconceptions About Local Channels
A lot of people think they need a "4K Antenna" to get the local guide. That’s marketing fluff. A basic rabbit-ear antenna from the 1990s will work just fine for digital signals as long as it’s rated for UHF and VHF. In New Orleans, some of our stations broadcast on the VHF band, which means those tiny flat "leaf" antennas stuck to a window sometimes struggle. If you're missing Channel 6 or Channel 12, you probably need an antenna with actual metal "ears."
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Another myth? That you can't get local channels on a Roku or Firestick. You can, but you usually have to go through an aggregator app or the station's specific "Watch Live" feature. You won't find a "channel number" in the traditional sense; you'll just find the station's logo.
Actionable Steps for Setting Up Your View
If you are trying to get your TV situation sorted in the 504, don't just start clicking buttons. Follow this logic to save yourself some frustration.
First, decide if you actually need cable. If you only watch the news and major network shows, buy a high-quality amplified indoor antenna. Position it facing toward the Eastbank or the Westbank towers (check AntennaWeb.org for your specific coordinates). Run a "Channel Scan" in your TV's settings. This will automatically populate your new orleans channel guide with about 30 to 50 channels, many of which you’ll never watch, but the core locals will be there in crisp 1080i or 720p.
Second, if you’re a sports fanatic, check the current carriage agreements. The New Orleans market is notorious for disputes between providers and station owners (like Tegna or Nexstar). Sometimes a station will go "dark" on Cox or DirecTV for a month while they argue over money. Having an antenna as a backup ensures you never miss a kickoff.
Third, download the WWL, WDSU, and FOX 8 apps on your phone. Even if you have the best TV setup in the world, the afternoon summer pop-up storms in New Orleans can knock out your signal right when the radar is looking hairy. Having the digital guide in your pocket is the ultimate local move.
Check your local listings weekly, as sub-channels frequently change ownership. One day a channel might be showing old Westerns, and the next, it’s a 24-hour home shopping network. Staying updated ensures you know exactly where to turn when the sirens start or when the parade coverage begins.