Streaming audio platform TuneIn has expanded its local news offerings through an agreement with ABC Owned Television Stations that brings eight free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels to its service.
The agreement makes local news, weather and Localish programming from ABC-owned stations available through TuneIn’s distribution platform, which reaches listeners across more than 200 connected devices and vehicle integrations.
The participating stations are ABC-owned WABC (Channel 7) in New York, KABC (Channel 7) in Los Angeles, WLS (Channel 7) in Chicago, WPVI (Channel 6) in Philadelphia, KGO (Channel 7) in San Francisco, KTRK (Channel 13) in Houston, WTVD (Channel 11) in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN (Channel 30) in Fresno.
The expansion gives TuneIn users access to local news programming from eight major television markets, extending the distribution of ABC’s local news services beyond their existing broadcast and streaming platforms.
“People have a real connection to their local news and often rely on these stations every day for community updates, weather, events, and more,” TuneIn CEO Richard Stern said in a statement. “ABC has a strong presence in some of the biggest markets in the country, and bringing these stations to TuneIn gives listeners easy access to what’s happening in their communities wherever they are.”
The agreement extends an existing programming relationship between TuneIn and Disney-owned media properties: Earlier this year, TuneIn added the ABC News “20/20 True Crime” channel, which offers podcasts and investigative reporting associated with the network’s long-running television news-magazine “20/20.”
TuneIn has also forged aggressive distribution deals with traditional radio broadcasters to bring their channels into the platform, and carries live, local AM and FM radio simulcasts from hundreds of stations owned by Cumulus Media, iHeart and Audacy.
The addition of the eight ABC-owned local news channels broadens TuneIn’s access to regional reporting and weather coverage, which can be particularly valuable to audiences seeking information about their communities while traveling or away from conventional television receivers.
TuneIn reports more than 75 million monthly active users across 122 countries. Its service is available through the TuneIn mobile application, TuneIn.com, smart speakers and connected vehicle entertainment systems. The company is owned by Stingray.
More Stories
- Ford, Lincoln vehicles to get white-label Stingray, TuneIn apps
- Stingray grows revenue to CA $471.6 million, touts strong capitalization of TuneIn integration
- TuneIn renews distribution partnership with Cumulus Media
- Audacy restores radio stations to TuneIn
- TuneIn offers AM broadcasters free access to premium products
- TuneIn adds 41 commercial-free channels from StingRay
