Comcast’s NBC Universal is distributing five of its local NBC News content streams through Paramount Global’s Pluto TV.
The launch of the five NBC news streams on Pluto TV comes about two months after the two programmers announced a streaming pact to distribute NBC Universal content streams through the Paramount-owned free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platform.
Starting this week, Pluto TV streamers have access to local news programming from NBC-owned channels in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.
Channels from other cities will launch in the future, including Boston, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, San Diego and Hartford, Connecticut. Streams from Telemundo channels in Florida, Texas, California and San Francisco will also debut on Pluto TV in the coming weeks.
“We are excited to grow our existing partnership with Pluto TV and expand the reach of our premium local news content to new audiences,” Amy Geary, the Senior Vice President of Content Distribution at NBC Universal, said in a statement. “News remains a valuable asset in our NBCUniversal portfolio, and we are thrilled to offer these regional networks to Pluto TV audiences.”
“Our streaming channels offer around-the-clock access to the award-winning news coverage, big live events, and compelling original programming produced by our expert teams of journalists based in local newsrooms throughout the nation,” Meredith McGinn, the Executive Vice President of Digital Networks and Original Production at NBC Universal’s local business segment, said on Wednesday. “We are excited for Pluto TV to showcase this valuable content, in both English and Spanish, to their audiences.”
Pluto TV becomes the latest platform to distribute local news content streams from NBC and Telemundo. Last August, Roku inked a similar distribution deal that brought NBC’s content channels and local news streams to its own FAST platform, The Roku Channel.
“In our mission of entertaining the planet, Pluto TV offers coverage on both global and local levels, striving to connect our audiences with every community that they are a part of,” Amy Kuessner, the Executive Vice President of Programming at Pluto TV, said on Wednesday. “By building on our local, geo-targeted news offering to include a variety of NBC Universal news channels, we’re ensuring our viewers stay informed about what matters most in their neighborhoods and enriching their viewing experience with relevant, timely content.”
Other NBC content streams offered by Pluto TV include NBC News Now, Dateline 24/7, Sky News International and Today All Day. Pluto TV also distributes local news streams from Paramount-owned CBS stations as well as Cox Media’s KIRO-TV (Channel 7) in Seattle and Altice’s News 12 New York.
