Zeam has announced that it has acquired the local streaming news service NewsOn from Sinclair, in a move that will strengthen Zeam’s local and hyperlocal news offerings.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced. The deal was announced on the same week that Sinclair announced it was embarking on a comprehensive review of its assets and broadcasting business.

NewsON provides a nationwide selection of local news from 285+ TV stations, giving viewers access to live and on-demand local news.

In addition to providing streaming technologies and services to a large number of clients, including live local broadcasts on Paramount+, the NFL, Amazon, Apple TV, Roku, Hulu, fuboTV and hundreds of other apps and websites, Zeam CEO Jack Perry and his team also launched hyperlocal streaming service, Zeam, in 2024.

Zeam currently features streams from hundreds of local stations and has partnerships with such top local broadcast groups as CBS, Gray Media, News Press & Gazette, Morgan Murphy, Tegna and others.

The NewsON stations will be integrated into Zeam’s core streaming service while NewsOn will continue as a standalone service called “NewsON. Powered by Zeam.”

As a result of the acquisition, Zeam will now feature local streams covering every U.S. measured market.

“With NewsON coming under the Zeam umbrella, we are not only shaping the future of local broadcast journalism, but also reinforcing its essential role in American communities,” Jack Perry, CEO of Zeam, said, “Through our joint resources we are setting local broadcasters up for a future beyond linear.”

Zeam also reported that NewsON be backed by Zeam’s streaming technology and its monetization expertise. Broadcasters will gain from the combined strength of Zeam and NewsON, in terms of further monetization opportunities, deeper engagement, and the innovative tools Zeam provides to local broadcast partners, Zeam reported.

“NewsON has been an important resource for connecting viewers with trusted local news from across the country. We’re confident that under Zeam’s leadership, the platform will continue to support stations and strengthen the value of local journalism,” said Kevin Cotlove, executive vice president and chief digital officer, Sinclair.

SEATTLE—Local news streaming service NewsON said it has launched an upgraded app for Roku, offering new features and a refreshed user interface that gives viewers access to live and on-demand news coverage across the United States.

The redesigned app offers users ad-supported access to a range of local news content, including live newscasts and on-demand clips from over 285 TV stations in more than 135 markets, covering over 90% of the country. Many local stations have FAST channels, which are available for streaming on NewsON, which is wholly owned by Sinclair, it said.

New NewsON features include:

• Weather radar, forecasts, current conditions and video: Users can access a zoomable national radar map with additional layers, including winds, precipitation, icy conditions and more. Local current conditions and seven-day forecasts are available for each NewsON market on the app, along with a curated collection of weather videos and up-to-date coverage from around the country.
• Trending stations map: Enables easy navigation of breaking news stories from across the U.S., ensuring instant access to the most relevant and up-to-date coverage both locally and out of market.
• What’sON—new original series: What’sON is a daily segment featuring unique and trending news stories beyond the headlines, presented in an interactive format. Each day brings new content like “True Crime Tuesday” and “Strange but True Thursday.” Viewers can interact with the host and fellow users through comments on their mobile device, sharing their voice and connecting with the community.
• Unique mobile features: iOS and Android apps now offer a focus on mobile-centric short-form content, polls, user commenting and push alerts.

“The release of our updated app on Roku is a significant milestone for NewsON. We are very focused on building on our core service of nationwide local TV news access with unique features like VOD newscasts, while enhancing multiplatform engagement and interactivity with a host of new content and features including interactive weather radar, user commenting and polls,” Ron Stitt, vice president and general manager of NewsON, said.

NewsON is free to download with no login required on Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV devices, Samsung, Android TV, Vizio, web, iOS and Android. An additional app for LG is in development.

More information is available on the Roku Channel Store.

More information is available on the Sinclair website.

SEATTLE—In the run-up to the hotly contested 2024 elections, Sinclair’s free local streaming news service NewsON said its app is now available on Vizio TVs.

The app offers live and on-demand newscasts and content for free from more than 285 TV stations spanning 135-plus markets, covering over 90% of the U.S. Additionally, 190-plus local stations also offer FAST channels that stream on the NewsON app.

“Expanding NewsON to Vizio’s platform underscores our commitment to making local news accessible to more viewers,” NewsON Vice President and General Manager Ron Stitt said. “We’re excited to bring comprehensive, real-time and on-demand local news coverage to Vizio users, ensuring they stay informed about their communities.”

The app also offers access to weather forecasts, breaking news, and top trending stories of the week with What’sON, providing Vizio users another way to stay connected to the latest local news happening across the country and to watch breaking news from the battleground states.

BALTIMORE—NewsON, Sinclair’s news app that provides local news streamed live and on-demand from more than 280 local TV stations nationwide, has teamed up with Mindgrub to launch an Apple Vision Pro app for the service, marking Sinclair’s first foray into spatial computing specifically for local news delivery, “blending digital content with physical surroundings,” the companies said.

As Sinclair’s first spatial computing app built natively for Vision Pro devices, the NewsON app for Vision Pro introduces a unique “Newsroom immersion” feature, leveraging spatial aspects of the Vision Pro for displaying interactive news maps and a complete immersive environment.

NewsON’s Vision Pro app features partnerships with over 280 local TV stations in TV markets covering more than 90% of U.S. households and provides access to on-demand newscasts and short form story clips from local TV stations nationwide.Powered by RealityKit and SwiftUI, NewsON’s Vision Pro app also offers photorealistic 3D renderings and intuitive user experiences, Sinclair said.

“We’re always looking to embrace new outlets and ways of presenting local TV news and we’re excited to work with the team at Mindgrub to explore the possibilities of augmented reality in our new Vision Pro app. This is much more than just a repurposed mobile app. We’ve developed a native visionOS user experience and are excited to see how news audiences engage with this new form factor,” said Ron Stitt, VP and General Manager, NewsON.

“The possibilities with Apple Vision Pro are limitless, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of exploring its potential. This collaboration with NewsON really highlights our commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of digital media,” said Mindgrub Founder & CEO Todd Marks.

Lauren Herda, Interactive Art Director at Mindgrub, highlights the app’s geospatial features, noting: “One of the major benefits of this app is that if something big is happening, you can find the station on our interactive map, and easily go directly to where news is happening,” said Lauren Herda, Interactive Art Director at Mindgrub, highlighting the app’s geospatial features.

Since its retail launch at the beginning of February 2024, Apple has reportedly sold less than 400,000 of the Apple Vision Pros, which retail for $3,500.

SEATTLE—Eight News-Press & Gazette (NPG) stations have joined NewsON, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s free, multiplatform streaming service offering local news content. 

They include:

• KION, Monterey, Calif.
• KESQ, Palm Springs, Calif.
• KEYT, Santa Barbara, Calif.
• KRDO, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• KIFI, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• KMIZ, Columbia, Mo. 
• KTVZ, Bend, Ore. 
• KVIA, El Paso, Texas 

“NPG is pleased to expand the footprint of our local station brands and take advantage of the excellent streaming technology offered by this new partnership with NewsON,” said Michael Fabac, vice president of content and station promotion for NPG. 

NewsON offers live and on-demand local newscasts, FAST channels and news clips from over 23 television broadcast ownership groups, providing viewers instant access to local news content from 286 local TV stations covering 91% of the country’s population.    

“We’re pleased to have NPG stations join our lineup. With more local news content from additional markets across the U.S., we’re aligned in our goal of increasing the reach and impact of local news,” said Ron Stitt, vice president/general manager of NewsON. 

More information is available on the NewsON website.

SEATTLE—NewsON, the nation’s largest free OTT streaming service for local news content, has added the Raleigh-Durham DMA to its platform, with the addition of WRAL News+, Capitol Broadcasting Company’s new 24/7 streaming news station.

“We're excited to bring WRAL's award-winning local news content to NewsON's growing platform,” added WRAL's VP and General Manager, Joel Davis. “As the trusted news source for the Raleigh-Durham area, we're always looking for ways to expand our reach and connect with more viewers. This partnership with NewsON helps us expand the reach of our trusted, local news content to viewers in both North Carolina and across the country.”

NewsON offers live and on-demand local newscasts, FAST channels, and news clips from over twenty ownership groups, providing viewers instant access to local news content from 256 local TV stations covering 91% of the U.S. population.   

“WRAL has been a local TV digital pioneer since the dawn of the web, with a succession of innovations and successes, and we are pleased to see them join our stable of great stations.  Now, NewsON’s multiplatform user base will have access to local news content from the Raleigh-Durham market through WRAL News+,” said Ron Stitt, General Manager of NewsON. 

“As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, we need to help ensure that watching WRAL News is as frictionless as possible,” added Jon Accarrino, VP of Transformation at Capitol Broadcasting Company. “Making our news product available in more places, like NewsOn, helps to increase its accessibility and meets the viewer on the platform of their choice.”

SEATTLE—The NewsON OTT streaming service has struck a new licensing deal with CBS News and Stations as well as its O&Os that adds 13 CBS local stations, including top-25 market stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, to its offering of local TV news.

The agreement takes NewsON’s station count to more than 250 and coverage of U.S. households to 92%, it said.

Under the deal, NewsON will offer live newscasts, CBS News Local FAST channels and short-form story clips for each station, including the Detroit channel when it launches, it said.

“We are really thrilled to work with CBS News and Stations and bring their news product to NewsON’s multiplatform user base,” said Ron Stitt, general manager of NewsON. “CBS has been a leader in development of OTT/CTV local news, and we are pleased they are joining and supporting a large body of network affiliates who participate in NewsON to ensure they are connecting with CTV audiences and maximizing reach and revenue with their content.”

More information is available on the NewsOn website.

SEATTLE—Local news streaming aggregator NewsOn has announced the appointment of Dean Mandel as director of sales, a newly created position.

Joining NewsOn from Comscore where he was director of business development, Mandel has held sales positions with Sokal Media Group, Syncbak, Cox Media Group and Katz Media Group. 

NewsON offers live, on-demand local newscasts and news clips from more than a dozen local television ownership groups, providing viewers instant access to local news content from nearly 200 local TV stations in more than 100 U.S. markets. Over the last two years, NewsON has seen an increase in viewer growth, as active news cycles continue to drive increasing interest in local news, the company said.

“Hiring a consummate sales pro like Dean is a milestone and proof positive of the success of NewsON and the leading space we now occupy in the local OTT news ecosystem,” said NewsON vice president and general manager Ron Stitt.

“Dean is well known both to buyers and the local broadcast community. We’re confident he will elevate our profile and attract new business that will benefit all of our partners.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

SEATTLE—The local news streaming service NewsON has launched its app on Samsung smart TVs. The NewsON app for the TVs offers live, on-demand local newscasts and news clips from more than a dozen local television station groups, providing viewers instant access to local news content from nearly 200 local TV stations in over 100 U.S. markets.

“We are excited to introduce NewsON to a new audience across millions of Samsung Smart TVs in the U.S.,” said Ron Stitt, general manager of NewsON. “As a leading source of trusted local news content on OTT platforms, we are looking forward to expanding this free service to viewers on Samsung’s Smart TVs.”

Samsung TV Plus free ad supported video service offers instant access to 200 channels. It is pre-installed on all 2016-2021 Samsung Smart TVs, and available for download on select Samsung Galaxy devices. 

NewsON recently announced the completion of the relaunch and redesign of its product offering across supported platforms including Roku player, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and iOS and Android app versions, to include an enhanced user experience with streamlined navigation to live and on demand newscasts. 

NewsON has also announced the addition of a web-based product providing consumers another way to connect with local news at NewsON.us.

SEATTLE, Wash.—The local news streaming service NewsON has completed a relaunch of its product offering and has rolled out a new version of its free app, which features a redesigned user experience, as well as a web-based offering on NewsON.us.

NewsON includes content from more than 275 local TV stations in 165+ markets that cover 75% of the U.S. 

“We’re continuing to expand NewsON’s offerings, streamlining the experience, building in more editorial capabilities and connecting viewers to the content they care about,” said NewsON general manager Ron Stitt. “We’re pleased to offer this robust viewing experience and to continue supporting our partner station groups that make this possible.”

The company noted that in the last year, NewsON has seen explosive viewer growth, as news cycles increased interest in local news, making NewsON the #2 channel for News & Weather in the Roku Channel Store. It also continues to rank highly among national news brands for engagement. 

The NewsON redesign builds upon the established user experience while creating a deeper connection to the communities consumers value most, with each market represented in the app with a featured image for the designated area. 

The app’s new interface also simplifies access to stations marked as favorites, allowing for viewers to easily access news outside of their own market. As an added feature, when a local story gaining national attention occurs, a dynamic breaking news banner at the top of the screen will alert viewers to stations with coverage of the event within the app. 

As part of the redesign, NewsON has refreshed the Roku player, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and iOS and Android versions to include an enhanced user experience with streamlined navigation for live and on-demand newscasts.

In addition the NewsON.us site, which previously had company related news, now has a web version of the NewsON app service where viewers can watch live and on-demand local newscasts and local news clips from NewsON participating stations. 

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—Bitcentral’s FUEL online video platform is being used by Cowles Broadcasting for Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) on the NewsOn service. This is meant to expand Cowles distribution of local news content and to create monetization opportunities for stations with necessary ad cue points.

FUEL offers automation, encoding and distribution solutions, and has recently added support for server-side ad trigger technology. With ad triggers, applications or distribution platforms can include advertising cue points (SCTE-35), allowing ads to be inserted downstream by a third-party DAI vendor.

Cowles uses FUEL’s Linear on Demand (LOD) and Non-Stop Live (NSL) streaming solutions to create dynamic linear channels from a combination of VOD assets and live newscasts. FUEL automatically replaces Cowles’ on-air ads with digital ones.

“We’re delighted to be adding Cowles Broadcasting to our growing roster of local news providers,” said Ron Stitt, VP and General Manager at NewsON. “The ability to open up advertising opportunities is a critical factor in online distribution agreements today, and FUEL is providing the basis for new ad revenues no matter what device the viewer is using.”

Cowles Broadcasting channels are now available on NewsOn, the free, ad-funded streaming service available on connected TV platforms.

ATLANTA—The NewsON streaming service offering local news content from 179 U.S. TV stations is coming to Amazon Fire TV as a free app, the streaming news aggregator announced today.

"We are excited to bring NewsON to a brand new audience on Amazon Fire TV," said Derek Van Nostran, head of marketing for NewsON.

The NewsON app gives users instant access to live and on-demand video newscasts from 123 U.S. markets. Streaming and on-demand content currently is available from stations in 13 different ownership groups, and 50 more stations are in the process of becoming available on the app over the next few months, the company said.

The company has garnered significant user engagement with its app. Total OTT viewing time has surpassed 80,000 hours per day, and the average time spent with it per session exceeds one hour, NewsON said.

"With our consistently strong growth in viewer engagement, NewsON has become a leading source of trusted live and on-demand local news for OTT consumers," added Van Nostran.

The app, available for mobile and connected TV devices, offers instant access to broadcast-quality video. Users can find and watch breaking news coverage from multiple local stations in markets around the country. Available for iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon Fire TV, the app is free to download.

More information is available on the company’s website.

ATLANTA—Cox Communications' advertising sales division Cox Media will now be lead by Louis Gump, former NewsOn CEO, who will take on the position of senior vice president. Gump will be tasked with driving growth through innovation and client-focused strategies that build on Cox Media’s TV and premium digital advertising solutions.

NewsON is a digital media company that was co-founded by Cox Media Group. Gump’s time there saw him oversee NewsON’s growth as a leader in streaming media and connected TV advertising. Other positions he has held in his career include CEO of LSN Mobile, vice president of mobile at CNN and time at The Weather Channel, expanding their mobile business.

Outside of his official work roles, Gump has served on the board of the Mobile Marketing Association and was recognized with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He has worked with other organizations like the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Online Publishers Association, Atlanta Mobility Task Force, the Mobile Giving Foundation and Junior Achievement of Georgia.

Gump is based in Atlanta.

ATLANTA—NewsON has added to its stable of local news broadcasters as part of its distribution across multiple platforms with the addition of Meredith Corporation. Three of Meredith’s 17 owned or operated TV stations will be part of the NewsON roster, including KPHO and KTVK in Phoenix and KMOV in St. Louis; more may be added in the coming months, per NewsON’s press release.

NewsON provides live and on-demand local newscasts, as well as local clips, on mobile and connected TV devices. Users can search by market with an interactive map and for curated content linking coverage of breaking news from multiple stations.

With these new stations, NewsON says it now features video content from 141 stations in 99 markets covering 48 of the top 50 markets and 80 percent of the U.S. population.

Users can download the NewsON app for the iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet, and on Roku platforms. The app is available via iTunes, Google Play, and Roku Channel Store.