ABC owned stations launching local streams

Fresh off the announcement that the national ABC News Live feeds will see a talent and programming update, ABC has announced that its owned TV stations in eight markets will launch local streaming feeds.

The announcement, made Jan. 31, 2022, brings ABC in line with both CBS and NBC’s streaming offerings. CBS News Streaming Network, which was previously known as CBSN, rolled out a series of localized feeds starting in 2018.

NBC announced a series of regional streams Jan. 20, 2022.

ABC News’ owned stations’ local streams will be available on the station websites, mobile and smart TV apps on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.

The streams are featured under the existing station branding with “24/7” and, in some cases, “24/7 Stream” tacked on the end of the name.

For example, ABC 7 New York is calling its stream “ABC 7 New York 24/7 Stream.”

In select markets, stations are launching streaming-only newscasts that will be combined with simulcasts, encore presentations, breaking news and other digital exclusives.

• WABC (ABC 7 New York) in New York is adding a 6:30 p.m. newscast, anchored by Bill Ritter and Sade Baderinwa. 
• KABC (ABC 7 Los Angeles) in Los Angles is adding a 7 a.m. newscast with Leslie Sykes, Brandi Hitt, Leslie Lopez and Brianna Ruffalo.
• WLS (ABC 7 Chicago) is adding a 7 a.m. newscast with Tanja Babich, Terrell Brown and Val Warner along with Tracy Butler and Roz Varon. There’s also a new 7 p.m. newscast with Rob Elgas and Cheryl Burton.
• WPVI (6 ABC) in Philadelphia is also launching a 7 a.m. newscast. It will also add “The Rush,” a segment anchored by Action News’ Matt O’Donnell, Tamala Edwards and meteorologist Karen Rogers as well as “Brighter News,” available at 7:30 a.m. each weekday.
• KGO (ABC 7 Bay Area) will add a 7 a.m. newscast featuring Kumasi Aaron, Reggie Aqui, Jobina Fortson and meteorologist Drew Tuma.
• KTRK (ABC 13 Houston) will stream its 4:30 to 9 a.m. newscast along with a new 8 a.m. newscast with Jonathan Bruce. It is also adding a 9 p.m. newscast.
• WTVD (ABC 11 North Carolina) will add an hour of local news at 7 a.m. with Barbara Gibbs and John Clark.
• KFSN (ABC 30 Central California) in Fresno will be the first in its market to launch a 24/7 streaming service (ABC and CBS do not have owned stations in the DMA). It’s also adding a 7 a.m. newscast with Landon Burke, Amanda Venegas and Madeline Evans and a 7 p.m. one with Warren Armstrong, Margot Kim and Kevin Musso.

ABC notes that viewers from anywhere in the country can access any of the streams, without geographic limitations. 

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ABC will also continue to offer its Localish multiplatform lifestyle network that local stations contribute content to. 

At least one station, WLS in Chicago, created promos for the new service that notably use a different look that its current on air graphics package — instead featuring a flatter blue and gold look with circular elements that’s similar to the look used on “World News Now,” “America This Morning” and “Good Morning America.”

Sources tell NewscastStudio that a new ABC owned station graphics package is in the works and may take on a similar look in order to match the flatter, bolder networkwide rebranding effort that launched in 2021.

January 2022 has proven to be a busy month in the streaming wars among the big three networks — all three have announced significant overhauls to their offerings.

Networks and local stations are eager to make headway in the streaming market as viewers continue to shed traditional cable and satellite TV and move to smart TV and mobile platforms.

All three of these services are monetized using commercial breaks, making them free ad supported TV (FAST) services, though the breaks are often filled with network promos and an often repetitive mix of commercials, an indication that it’s been a challenge to get advertisers on board.

Sources at multiple networks and station groups say selling ad spots on streaming services continues to be a challenge, especially at the local level.