Roku, Apple iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone and tablet users now have another option for cutting the cord to subscription cable, satellite or telco TV services with the addition of the NewsON app, offering live and recorded streaming of local news reports from trusted broadcast TV stations around the country.
The NewsON app is a new service that provides consumers access to live and on-demand local newscasts and local news clips. The free, ad-supported service features flexible navigation with instant access to broadcast quality video.
The service gives viewers the ability to search by market via an interactive map for curated content linking coverage of breaking news events from multiple stations on smart hand-held devices. In addition the NewsON app is available on TV screens exclusively (at launch) via Roku streaming media adapters, Roku Streaming Stick and Roku TVs
More on the NewsON app after the break:
NewsON features “broadcast quality” video content from 118 stations in 90 markets, covering approximately 75 percent of the country. At launch, participating stations owned by: Graham Media Group and TEGNA as well as NewsON founding members: ABC Station Group (all owned and operated stations), Cox Media Group, Hearst Television, Media General and Raycom Media. In addition, Hubbard Broadcasting has joined the NewsON founding members as an investor, NewsON said.
The service said it expects to be adding news content from additional stations going forward, and at launch multiple stations will be available through NewsON in some markets, offering a selection of information options.
The company cited research from the Pew Research Center, showing that local TV stations are the dominant source of news for Americans.
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NewsON will make it easier than roaming from web site to web site for out-of-market local news broadcasts, allowing people from one region of the country to keep an eye on hometown news after they’ve moved away. Additionally, viewers will have the ability to track local news reports of major breaking developments covered by the local news teams in the markets where the events are unfolding.
In addition, viewers will be able to watch entire newscasts live or shifted to other times, clips of individual stories or compilations of clips assembled by NewsON staff.
Stations can be found via an interactive map which locates stations most relevant to users – from home markets to business destinations to communities where family members live. Viewers also have the ability to access and contribute to real-time tweets about local news, adding their perspective to the community of viewers and increasing the spread of local information.
NewsON gives local TV stations the ability to deliver live and on-demand local newscasts and local news clips within a robust user interface.
It will compete with a similar news service app, called Watchup, that offers newscasts from 150 local media outlets in 100 top markets. Watchup, which is available on iOS and Andriod devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Xbox 360 Nintendo Wii U, and Roku devices, will also let users curate content and create individualized newscasts from multiple sources. Watchup media partners include: Meredith Corp., E.W. Scripps Company, Tribune Media, Bonten Media Group, Lilly Broadcasting, Cowles-owned KHQ, Inc., Hearst Corp., Calkins Media, Hubbard Broadcasting, Cox Media Group, and the McClatchy Company.
The NewsON app is available for download from: iTunes, Google Play and the Roku Channel Store.
By Greg Tarr
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