Have directtv but tired of equipment costs..... Help

I have 2 TVs in spare rooms that get used 4 or 5 times a year. I want to get rid of the directtv box (and monthly tv charge) but would like to still use the TVs. However when I plug the coax cable into the tv, all I get is static. Is an antenna my only solution? When does the new chrome cast come out? Am I doing something wrong to not get tv when the coax is plugged in?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Oh yeah...... I have appletv in the living room. Would it be better to stick with more of those instead of the chrome cast.