To
promote and grow local TV news on mobile/connected TV devices, five major broadcast television station groups have started a new venture called NewsON.
The free, ad-supported service will reach
two-thirds of U.S. TV homes offering live and same-day local TV newscasts on demand from TV stations on mobile and selected connected TV devices.
TV station groups forming the venture include
ABC Owned Television Station Group, Cox Media Group, Hearst Television, Media General and Raycom Media.
NewsON content will be available from 112 TV news stations in 84 viewing markets,
including eight of the top 10 U.S. TV markets and 17 of the top 25.
Veteran TV executive Louis Gump will be the service’s CEO. Gump previously held mobile/digital posts at The Weather
Company and CNN.
“Americans place a great deal of trust in their local news teams, who are typically the first informers from the local scene of the biggest news developments around the
country,” he states.
Local TV station executives are counting on continued research that shows local TV stations remain the dominant source of news for Americans. Gump anticipates other
TV station groups will join the service.
NewsON is expected to launch in the fall of this year.