For those who like their daily dose of the local TV news but just can't stick around long enough to finish it before going to work, there's a new ad-supported app to circumvent this problem.
The NewsON app, which is available for both Android and iOS, is owned by broadcasting corporations — ABC Owned Television Station Group, Hearst Television, Raycom Media, Cox Media Group and Media General — that encompass almost 75 percent of the United States. The viewable content through the app will cover 90 market categories and will be aired from 118 stations. Aside from those that have stakes in the app venture, content from Tegna and Graham Media Group will also be broadcasted. Moreover, the NewsON press release states the app will welcome stations that want their content broadcasted through the app.
"NewsON expands the reach and relevance of local broadcast news, and delivers a uniquely valuable experience for viewers," says NewsON CEO Louis Gump. "NewsON offers the most comprehensive collection of local news video available today for mobile and connected TV viewers, and we expect the number of participating stations to grow between now and the end of the year."
On the app interface, users are provided an interactive map that will locate relevant local news stations. The users' localities and possible destinations, even those of family members, will be considered relevant. Users can also use the interactive video timeline to navigate through the news video. Tweets regarding the news will also be displayed on NewsON and users can respond and contribute natively through the app.
The press release highlighted a March 2015 Pew Research Center report titled "Local News in a Digital Age," which revealed that nine out of 10 residents follow the local news and more than 60 percent have discussions a few times a week over it. Moreover, it was revealed that Americans have twice the demand for local news over national and international news.
Aside from mobile phones and tablets running on Android and iOS, Roku streaming players, Roku TVs and the Roku streaming stick users will also have access to the NewsON app.
