Yes, YouTube TV includes local channels, and they're based on the home ZIP code you give when you sign up. YouTube TV names CBS, FOX and NBC among its networks, its Sports Plan page lists your local NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC stations, and you can check your exact lineup by entering your ZIP code on its plan page.
Locals aren't an add-on. The main YouTube TV plan, the Sports Plan and the Sports + News Plan all include them, according to YouTube TV's own plan descriptions. What changes from one household to the next is which stations you get, and that's tied to where YouTube TV thinks home is.
How YouTube TV decides your local channels
When you sign up, YouTube TV asks for your home ZIP code and may ask you to confirm it through your device's location permission. Its help page says this is how it makes sure you get the correct local networks. If the ZIP code it suggests is wrong, you select I don't live here and enter the right one before you finish signing up.
YouTube TV also uses your internet connection to work out where you are. If it can't, you'll see an alert and your browser or phone will ask you to allow YouTube TV to identify your location. Say yes, or your locals won't load.
Check your lineup before you pay
- Go to tv.youtube.com on a web browser.
- Scroll to the channel section and find the ZIP code box.
- Enter your home ZIP code and select Submit.
- Read the list for your area, including which local stations appear.
YouTube TV describes the channels on that page as a sample and says availability is subject to change, so the ZIP code check is the one to trust. Do it before you start a trial, especially if you're in a smaller market.
What happens to locals when you're away from home
This is where most of the confusion comes from. Your home area and your current location are two different settings, and they do different jobs.
| Where you are | Local channels you can watch | Can you record locals? |
|---|---|---|
| In your home area | Your home stations | Yes |
| Travelling inside the US | Stations local to where you are | No, not outside your home area |
| Outside the US | None: YouTube TV doesn't play abroad | No |
YouTube TV's help says that outside your home area you can watch programming local to where you are, but you can't record or watch networks local to your home area. Recordings you've already made at home still play while you travel.
If you're deciding whether to sign up at all, my verdict on whether YouTube TV is worth it weighs it up.
The check-in rule that keeps your locals working
YouTube TV asks frequent travellers to use the service in their home area at least once every 3 months, so it can keep offering the correct local networks. MLB fans get a tighter rule: once every 30 days in the home area, to avoid game-related viewing restrictions.
If you've moved for good, update your home area rather than relying on travel mode. YouTube TV limits that: you can't change your home area if you've already changed it twice in the last 12 months, or if you aren't currently located in the new area. My guide to changing your location on YouTube TV walks through both settings.
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Why your local channels might not show
- Location permission is off. Turn it on for your browser or the app, then reload.
- You're on a VPN or proxy. YouTube TV says you won't be able to stream while connected to one.
- Your home ZIP code is wrong. Check it under your profile photo, then Location.
- You're on a work or school Chrome device. Your administrator may control location settings.
Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can also clear a stuck location, according to YouTube TV's troubleshooting steps.
The plan details sit alongside the channel list in my guide to YouTube TV plans.
My verdict
YouTube TV is a sensible choice if your main reason for leaving cable is keeping your local news and network shows, because locals come with every main plan. Check your ZIP code lineup first, keep your home area accurate, and remember that you can't record your home stations while you're away. If sport is the draw, my guide on watching sports on YouTube TV explains what local games you'll see, and YouTube TV's prices are set out plan by plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does YouTube TV include local channels?
Yes. YouTube TV's main plan, Sports Plan and Sports + News Plan all include local channels, based on your home ZIP code.
How do I see which local channels YouTube TV has in my area?
Go to tv.youtube.com, find the ZIP code box in the channel section, enter your home ZIP code and select Submit to see your area's lineup.
Can I watch my home local channels while travelling?
No. YouTube TV says that outside your home area you see stations local to where you are, and you can't record or watch your home area's local networks.
How often can I change my YouTube TV home area?
YouTube TV won't let you change it if you've already changed it twice in the last 12 months, or if you aren't currently in the new area.
