Hearst Television is restructuring Very Local, it’s free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) product, which will focus more on local news and documentary programming in the coming months.

As part of the move, Hearst is parting ways with a number of employees who produced non-news based programming, including local reality, lifestyle, food and general knowledge shows, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

In a statement, a Hearst spokesperson affirmed that Very Local will “streamline its production to focus primarily on documentary and news-adjacent programming, formats we have seen resonate with streaming viewers.”

“Unfortunately, this impacts the roles of some of our very talented colleagues, who have produced an impressive slate of award-winning programming,” the spokesperson told numerous entertainment trade publications this week. “We are grateful for their service and contributions to this project. Hearst Television will continue to innovate in the streaming landscape, and we believe that this strategy is the right path forward for Very Local.”

Hearst owns dozens of local ABC, CBS, CW and NBC affiliates across the country. (It does not operate any Fox affiliates.) After streaming live news broadcasts from its local stations online for several years, the company launched Very Local in 2021 as a single destination to watch live news and shoulder programming that originated from its stations.

Over time, Very Local has grown to include other local shows like “Absolutely Albuquerque,” which is produced by its ABC affiliate KOAT (Channel 7), and “Local Love Sacramento,” produced by NBC station KCRA-TV (Channel 3).

Locally-produced programming fill in the daytime and evening schedule when newscasts are not aired. The app is available as a free download on phones, tablets and most smart TV platforms.