Talking globally for this answer, rather than region/country specific :-
Well it's a pretty simple one - if the local stations have an analog VHF or UHF simulcast (simultaneous broadcast) broadcast too, and are in range (probably if local), then put an antenna up in loft space or outside and tune using that olde-worlde feature called the tuner :)
If there's a Digital TV service version, still broadcast from towers or simulcasted from towers, then it's much the same story but using either the inbuilt digital decoder in the TV or a STB (set top box) digital receiver that's connected to an AV input or the RF/Antenna input (depending on the STB) of the TV.
Otherwise, you are talking about either a) an illegal 'hookup' and an unauthorised cable service receiver got from dubious origins or b) a probably technically legal but often in breach of contract use of legally sharing a neighbour's cable feed using a second box registered as an additional room use (just in this case, the additional 'room' happens to be in a neighbouring property).
Option A) speaks for itself and to talk about the how's would be encouraging theft. Option B), whilst technically not 'theft' is almost certainly a misuse of a provision by being outside of service contract your neighbour was in with the cable provider.
So essentially, for real TV, it's down to relying on RF broadcasts if they exist.
If you've got a stable fairly high bandwidth internet connection (at least 512MB to be safely over minimum), there may be internet simulcasts of some of these (as legit web services or P2P and non-P2P distributed unauthorised redistributions) that you can access with a browser on a PC and AV pipe to a TV if desired, or similar method directly on a 'Smart' TV's internal browser or using on of those media-centre style Android based STB's that add Smart TV type function to an existing TV.
However, unless those broadcasts are of a reasonably not-compressed-to-oblivion (and some are so compressed badly and excessively, it makes 70s era standard def broadcast imagery look practically HQ HD), it's just a means to an end if the end result isn't too important.
'TV Catchup' is one such site/service that's accessible by browser and also by an app on some smartphones, where 'TV Catchup' in the name refers to not a 'replay/watch again' VOD but a way to 'catch up' with live tv when you are away from the TV. Have no idea how accessible it is and where outside of the UK, but it's coverage of UK services is good. So i guess if you hunt, you'll find similar covering US regional and national channels.
There's also a software dongle option, for your pc/laptop that's just a self-contained distribution media and auto-run/auto-install app that loads a custom media player that used internet TV streams and has often a lot of international coverage - but still required an internet connection clearly.