How to Watch KTLA 5 Los Angeles (The CW) For Free & Without Cable
Last updated: June 15, 2026
KTLA 5 is the most LA television station there is. It signed on in 1947 as the first commercial TV station west of the Mississippi, it's been the home of the famous KTLA Morning News for decades, and it broadcasts from the old Warner lot on Sunset. These days it's owned by Nexstar and carries The CW, which Nexstar also owns, so primetime is CW entertainment and sports wrapped around all that local news. It's free over the air from Mount Wilson, and on the streaming side it's on YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. For a station this woven into the city, the antenna is the natural way to watch it.
Watching KTLA 5 With an Antenna
KTLA broadcasts free over the air on virtual channel 5.1 from Mount Wilson. It is one of the most-watched signals in the market, and reception across the basin is reliable with a basic antenna as long as the mountains aren't blocked by terrain.
KTLA 5 Subchannels & Signal
Broadcasts on physical RF channel 35, virtual channel 5. With one antenna you also get these free digital subchannels:
- 5.1 The CW
- 5.2 Antenna TV
- 5.3 Grit
- 5.4 Shop LC
- 5.5 Rewind TV
Los Angeles is a tale of two reception stories. Nearly every station beams from Mount Wilson, the peak above Pasadena, so if your home has a clear line of sight to those mountains, a cheap antenna pulls in dozens of channels. The problem is the terrain that makes LA, LA. Canyons, hillsides, and tall buildings throw signal shadows, so a house in a Westside canyon or tucked behind a Valley ridge can struggle where a flat stretch of the basin gets everything. If you land in a dead zone, a directional rooftop antenna aimed at Mount Wilson is the fix.
Streaming KTLA 5 Without Cable
With a free trial: YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream all carry KTLA 5 and let you watch free during the trial period before any charge.
Every Local Channel in Los Angeles
Here is the full Los Angeles lineup, whether each channel is available free with an antenna and how well it comes in, plus the streaming services that carry it.
| Channel | Antenna (Free) | Streaming services |
|---|---|---|
| Fox 11 KTTV · Ch 11 | YesStrong | Fubo (free trial) YouTube TV (free trial) Sling TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream (free trial) |
| NBC 4 KNBC · Ch 4 | YesStrong | Fubo (free trial) YouTube TV (free trial) Sling TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream (free trial) |
| Univision 34 KMEX · Ch 34 | YesGood | Fubo (free trial) |
| Telemundo 52 KVEA · Ch 52 | YesGood | Fubo (free trial) YouTube TV (free trial) Hulu + Live TV |
| KCAL 9 KCAL | YesStrong | Fubo (free trial) |
| MyNetworkTV 13 KCOP | YesGood | Fubo (free trial) YouTube TV (free trial) Hulu + Live TV |
| Estrella TV KRCA | YesGood | Fubo (free trial) |
| UniMás KFTR | YesGood | Fubo (free trial) |
| KTLA 5 KTLA · Ch 5 | YesStrong | YouTube TV (free trial) DirecTV Stream (free trial) |
| ABC 7 KABC · Ch 7 | YesStrong | Fubo (free trial) YouTube TV (free trial) Hulu + Live TV |
| CBS 2 KCBS · Ch 2 | YesStrong | Fubo (free trial) YouTube TV (free trial) Hulu + Live TV |
Antenna reception is free with a one-time antenna purchase. Services tagged “free trial” let you watch at no cost during the trial window; the rest require a paid subscription from day one.
KTLA 5 FAQ
- Can I watch KTLA 5 for free?
- Yes. KTLA 5 broadcasts free over the air in Los Angeles, so a one-time antenna purchase gets you the live signal at no monthly cost. Several live TV streamers that carry it also offer free trials.
- Is KTLA 5 available with an antenna?
- Yes, reception in Los Angeles is rated strong. KTLA broadcasts free over the air on virtual channel 5.1 from Mount Wilson. It is one of the most-watched signals in the market, and reception across the basin is reliable with a basic antenna as long as the mountains aren't blocked by terrain.
- Which streaming services have KTLA 5?
- In the Los Angeles market, KTLA 5 is carried by YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. Of those, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream offer free trials.
Last updated: June 15, 2026