There’s nothing quite like spending the night sitting back with your family and watching something together. What’s great about using over-the-air (OTA) television is that you don’t need to pay any monthly service fees. Everything is free to access, you just need to purchase and set up an antenna first. After that, watching content at home won’t cost you a dime.
There are loads of family-friendly shows to choose from for little ones, and thankfully, for parents of older middle and high schoolers, there are thought-provoking options that might even prompt discussions afterward, like documentaries, plus light-hearted game shows for times when you just want to be entertained. Here are 6 older-kid-friendly options to help you wrap up your day together.
“The Voice”
It’s hard to believe “The Voice” is already in its 24th season! Hosted by Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani and John Legend, watch it on Monday and Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. This reality singing competition showcases the talent of aspiring artists in front of a panel of celebrities. Voting can be done by viewers, which makes it interactive and fun.
“Superfan”
This reality show takes fandom to a whole new level where contestants compete to prove they know more than their competitors about their favorite musicians. If they win, they get a music-based prize packaged by their idol. Catch it on CBS on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
“American Idol”
Back this fall in its 22nd season (7th season on ABC) is “American Idol.” While the date and time have yet to be set, the singing competition is expected to be as entertaining as usual, with participants competing to impress both viewers and celebrity judges.
“Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS)
Back for its 32nd season, actor Alfonso Ribiero (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) will replace Tyra Banks as host with Julianne Hough co-hosting this season. This year’s celebrity lineup includes Jason Mark, Alyson Hannigan, Tyson Beckford and more while Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough sit on the judging panel. It airs on Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET.
“Wheel of Fortune”
Airing on Thursdays this fall at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, get the whole family together to guess the word or phrase puzzle. While you won’t get awarded any big prizes from watching, you can have a lot of fun collaborating together for a living room win. This is the last season for host Pat Sajak before Ryan Seacrest takes over.
“The Amazing Race”
Another show expanding to 90-minute episodes is the Emmy Award-winning reality series “The Amazing Race,” which airs on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The essence of the show remains the same with teams embarking on adventures all over the globe, and competing in challenges for the $1 million prize.
