South Florida’s 9

Satellite (and cable) almost always carry more local stations than live streaming services like DirecTV Stream (and Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling, etc). This is largely because satellite and cable operate under FCC rules, and one of those rules is must carry, which basically says those services must carry any local station that asks to be carried and directly provides the needed signal to the service (and doesn’t demand payment from the service).

The FCC determined years ago (based on laws from the 1980s and 1990s) that it didn’t have the authority to regulate streaming services, so the must carry rule doesn’t apply to them.  Cable and satellite providers don’t like must carry - if they had the choice, they wouldn’t carry many of the smaller and independent locals that they do, as it costs them money for little if any return.  Since streaming services aren’t forced to, they don’t - they carry the major network affiliates and some significant independents they think the majority of subscribers insist on (and depending on the fees those stations demand, not all of those).  The industry association for local stations is trying to get this changed, but right now that seems unlikely since it would require new laws from Congress (and the effort is being fought by the networks).