Best 5 Ways to Access an Over-The-Air Channel Guide

Over-The-Air (OTA) television may well be the next big thing in the cord-cutting revolution. Today's generation might not know that major broadcasting companies have been on the air since before cable ever appeared.

In the past, a channel guide was printed in the newspaper that you read every day. Today, if you have cable, channel guides can be accessed when you press the guide button on your remote. When you use an OTA TV antenna, some devices come programmed to show you a guide, but more often others will just simply let you surf channels without a guide.

When you purchase an over-the-air TV antenna with a device from Channel Master you'll be happy to know that they have programmed their devices to display a channel guide for your convenience.

Here are a few ways to access an over-the-air channel guide:

1. OTA DVR and Streaming Media Player

You only need a few things to have complete access to an over-the-air channel guide. A streaming media player and OTA DVR like those offered by industry experts Channel Master can get you started. Their Stream+ offers an on-screen program guide for live antenna TV as well as allows you to record, rewind, and pause live signals at any time. The best part, it offers all of these amazing features without monthly subscription fees unlike those pricey cable and satellite packages require.

2. Smart TVs

Smart televisions are one of the quickest ways you can set up an over-the-air channel guide at home. Many television sets you see today have smart TV features incorporated into them. These allow you to scan for channels as long as your antenna is connected to the RF connector. Once you search for channels you will see what channels are available in your area and can create a channel guide from there. You will not be able to pause or record anything, but you will have your channels in order.

3. Mobile Devices

Mobile devices can help you sort through television channel guides and set reminders for shows you want to see. After all, most people are on their phone for a significant amount of time a day. That means that they are not likely to miss reminders of shows and can carry their TV guide with them at all times. Mobile devices can even serve you as remote while you watch television at home.

4. Web Browsers

Similar to mobile devices, web browsers can give you access to OTA channel guides posted on the broadcasting station's website. You can save the guide for the month and print it out or keep on your computer for later viewing. Having a TV guide on your browser ensures that you never miss your favorite shows.

5. Media Management Devices

Devices and applications are other good options to access OTA guides. Kodi TV and Xbox One Live can help you sort through all your movies and television shows easily. They help you determine when your shows will be broadcasted and allow you to watch them thanks to your antenna connection.

Find What Works For You

Since there are a few ways to access an over-the-air channel guide you should do some research to find what is right for you. To make your life easier we suggest that you find an over-the-air TV antenna that has a guide that is pre-programmed for your viewing pleasure. This will eliminate using outside sources for a simple guide.