DIRECTV Adds Back 2 Local ABC & CBS Affiliates (KOHD & KBNZ)

I was scrolling through the DIRECTV channel guide on my Firestick 4K Max when I noticed something that hadn’t been there in a while — local ABC and CBS channels sitting right where they belong. Turns out DIRECTV just quietly restored two local affiliates that had gone dark: KOHD-ABC and KBNZ-CBS, both back effective immediately after Zolo Broadcasting reached a new agreement with the platform. If you’ve been cobbling together workarounds to catch local news or network primetime, that’s over.

And the timing is interesting — alongside the affiliate restoration, DIRECTV launched seven new multiview Mix Channels on Fire TV, including a Locals Mix that puts ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC on one screen simultaneously. I’ve been playing with it for a few days. It’s not gimmicky.

What Actually Changed

The short version: Zolo Broadcasting and DIRECTV reached a deal, and KOHD-ABC and KBNZ-CBS are back on the platform immediately. For subscribers in the affected markets, these channels should already be visible in your channel guide without any action on your part.

This matters because local blackouts are the worst kind of service interruption — they kill local news, weather, and network primetime all at once. The restoration ends that.

The longer version: DIRECTV also launched seven new Mix Channels alongside this. Here’s what’s available:

• Locals Mix — ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC on one screen (select markets where DIRECTV holds streaming rights)
• Sports Mix — Up to four live sports channels simultaneously
• News Mix — Multiple news networks in a single multiview layout

On Fire TV, Mix Channels support instant audio switching between quadrants and closed captioning per channel. You navigate them with the D-pad, which — unlike most multiview implementations — actually works from the couch.

What I Tested For

I spent time in the DIRECTV Fire TV app specifically looking at:

• Whether the restored locals showed up in the guide without any manual changes
• How the Locals Mix multiview performs on a Firestick 4K Max over a 500 Mbps fiber connection
• Whether D-pad navigation through Mix Channels is usable from couch distance
• How DIRECTV’s local channel availability compares to alternatives at lower price points

Results: channels appeared immediately in the guide with no app restart required. The Locals Mix multiview loaded quickly and held steady — audio switching between feeds was instant. The 910+ channel range isn’t obvious to find, which is the one navigation gripe I have.

DIRECTV Streaming Packages (2026)

Package	Monthly Price	What’s Included
Entertainment	$79.99/mo	200+ channels: NBC, Fox, CNN, TNT, HGTV + locals where available
Choice	$108.99/mo	Everything above + regional sports networks
Ultimate	$119.99/mo	Full lineup + premium add-ons

Local ABC and CBS channels — including the restored KOHD and KBNZ affiliates — are included in all tiers where DIRECTV holds streaming rights for your market.

How to Get DIRECTV on Your Firestick

The Verdict on DIRECTV Streaming

Best Alternatives for Local ABC & CBS on Firestick

DIRECTV’s restored lineup is one of the more complete local channel solutions, but $79.99/month isn’t for everyone. Here’s how the alternatives compare for getting ABC and CBS specifically on your Firestick.

Breaking Down the Real Options

Sling TV

Sling TV Blue costs less than DIRECTV post-promotion and covers ABC, NBC, and Fox in select markets — but no CBS. If the KBNZ-CBS restoration is the specific channel you needed back, Sling won’t fill that gap.

Fubo

Fubo is expanding into more local markets and covers ABC, CBS, and Fox in supported areas. Sports-heavy households overlapping with cord-cutters will want to do a zip-code check — if your market is covered, it’s worth comparing against DIRECTV’s pricing. NBC gaps can be filled with Peacock on the side.

Paramount+

Paramount+ with Showtime gives you CBS live in most US markets — exactly the CBS side of what DIRECTV just restored. If CBS is the only local you need and you don’t care about the full channel lineup, this is cheaper. But you lose ABC, NBC, Fox, and the depth of a 200+ channel package.

Peacock

Peacock Premium Plus covers NBC live. It’s a useful supplement to whatever service you’re already on if NBC is the gap — not a standalone local channel solution.

OTA antenna is still the cheapest answer if your market and living situation support it. A standard antenna pulls ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS for free. Pair one with an HDHomeRun network tuner and you can route those OTA signals to your Firestick through their app — no monthly fee, just the hardware cost upfront.

The Bigger Picture for Fire TV Users

The KOHD-ABC and KBNZ-CBS restoration is genuinely good news for DIRECTV subscribers in those markets. Local blackouts are the most disruptive kind of channel dispute — they remove the content most people assume is always there. Having it back without any action required on the subscriber’s end is the right way to handle it.

The multiview Mix Channels are the more interesting development long-term. Up to four live streams on one screen with working closed captioning and instant audio switching isn’t a feature most Fire TV apps pull off well. DIRECTV’s implementation on Fire TV is one of the better ones I’ve used.

The catch is the same as it’s always been — you’re paying cable-adjacent prices ($79.99/month starting) for a streaming service. For cord-cutters, that math only works if you actually need the full channel depth. If you just need locals, there are cheaper paths.

For a broader look at your live TV options on Firestick, the best Firestick apps for live TV in 2026 roundup covers free and paid options across the full spectrum. If live sports are driving your decision, how to watch live sports on Firestick breaks down which services cover which leagues. And if you want to explore free local channel options before committing to any subscription, how to watch live TV on Firestick for free walks through every method that actually works in 2026.

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Last updated: March 2026