Access to local news via streaming is growing thanks to Tubi. The Streaming service announced it has expanded its “News on Tubi” offering in the U.S. with the addition of nearly 80 24-hour, live local news feeds from major television station owners that include Cox Media Group (CMG), Hearst Television, Scripps and TEGNA. Including Tubi’s current offering of 17 FOX Television stations and Altice USA’s News 12 New York, Tubi will carry nearly 100 local station feeds in 2021, covering 58 designated market areas (DMAs), with stations to be rolled out throughout the coming year—offering the most robust local news offering of any AVOD service. These added stations extend News on Tubi’s reach to 24 of the top 25 markets, including new feeds launching over the next week from WHBQ (FOX) in Memphis, KOKI (FOX) in Tulsa, WEWS (ABC) in Cleveland, WMUR (ABC) in Manchester, WTAE (ABC) in Pittsburgh, and WXYZ (ABC) in Detroit.
While the additions do not cover every market in the country it’s expansion points to a trend towards free distribution of local news with ad-supported streaming.
News on Tubi is a comprehensive way for viewers to access always-on live, premium streaming news content – completely free. Available on Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, the Roku® platform, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Contour, Xbox and Vizio, News on Tubi currently features content from FOX Television Stations, NewsNOW from FOX, FOX SOUL, Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Quicktake, NBC News NOW, CBC, PeopleTV, WeatherNation, Cheddar, Altice USA’s News 12 New York, fubo Sports Network, Black News Channel, Euronews, and Estrella News. Tubi will continue to add national news brands in 2021, in addition to its focus on local stations.
“Since News on Tubi launched in October, Tubi viewers have instantly taken hold of its value as a destination for a variety of free news choices, and we’re excited to bring the most comprehensive local news offering to streaming,” said Farhad Massoudi, CEO of Tubi. “With live broadcasts covering nearly all of the top US markets, Tubi is the AVOD home for local news around the country.”
