We’re always talking about the fact that free Over-the-Air (OTA) HDTV is available in most cities and towns across North America. It is being broadcast in gorgeous High Definition with better picture quality than you can get from your cable/satellite provider.
In order to show just how much High Definition TV content you can access for free OTA, we’ve done some research with our friends over at RabbitEars.info to find out which markets have the most HDTV channels available Over-The-Air.
What Are the Best Cities In North America for OTA?
Here’s a map showing the metro areas with the highest number of Over-the-Air TV stations broadcast in high definition:
If you can’t spot your city on the map, here’s a list of markets that made the top 10 ranking in North America. Please note that the count reflects the number of HD channels available OTA. Many more standard definition channels are available in these markets.
Over the next few weeks we’ll be highlighting some of the awesome content available Over-the-Air in these cities so stay tuned.
Why is OTA So Cool?
With HD picture quality and a tough-to-beat price tag – absolutely free with an HDTV antenna which can cost anywhere from $3 to $200, depending on the size and quality – there has been a surge in the number of people accessing television signals via digital TV antennas.
Along with major broadcast networks (like NBC in the US and CTV in Canada) featuring some of the most popular shows (like Big Bang Theory, The Voice and The Americans) there are often specialty channels airing news, weather and some of our favorite syndicated series from years past. Broadcasters are even taking notice of the resurgence of OTA TV viewership and are adding new specialty OTA channels across the United States, showing movies, westerns and women’s programming.
How Do I Get OTA HDTV?
Because this content is broadcast from local towers, what you’ll be able to receive at home can vary. If you live in one of the top OTA markets in North America, cutting the cord on cable in favor of OTA TV and Over-the-Top services like Netflix and Sling is a great way to save money and still have more content than you could ever watch in a day.
So, if you live in one of these cities and aren’t using an antenna to watch FREE TV, what are you waiting for?
