Depends on where you live - in an urban metro area OTA digital antenna reception will pick up free TV stations.
In a rural area, forget it. You’re better off with cable.
As you say it’s not anywhere as good a deal as it is for urbans and suburbanites.
I’m in a rural mountainous area and only get 4 channels and 9 sub-channels with my $100 outdoor antenna and booster.
But I also only get DSL so streaming is iffy too though.
Of course those 4 channels I get are HD and NFL is about all I watch so I got my money’s worth over the 5 years so far.
In a rural area, forget it. You're better off with cable.
True. In my rural area we get zero reception from an antenna. Nearest TV station is over 200 miles away.