NewsON is a local news service that enables users to see local news broadcasts and video clips from TV stations across the United States in one app. As of November 2016, NewsON includes 170 TV stations from 108 markets covering 83% of the US population and is growing. The app is available on mobile phones, tablets and connected TVs, including iPhones, iPads, Android phones, Android tablets, Roku connected TV devices, and Fire TV. NewsON delivers a first-of-its-kind app to view live local news broadcasts during breaking news across platforms and enabling viewers to watch the video when convenient for them. NewsON was announced on June 9, 2015, as a venture formed by five of the largest TV station groups in the United States. The founding members are the ABC Owned Television Station Group, Cox Media Group, Hearst Television, Media General, and Raycom Media. Hubbard Broadcasting announced its participation as an investor in November 2015, and Sinclair Broadcasting announced their investment in January 2016. Each of these station groups have both invested in the business and also participate in the service with their TV stations. Other participating station groups are Berkshire Hathaway, GrahamMedia Group,E.W. Scripps Company, and TEGNA. The company launched service to the public on November 4, 2015, and is available on iOS, Android, and Roku. With the addition of Sinclair Broadcast Group stations announced in January 2016, NewsON will eventually cover 80% of the U.S. population with 150 stations by the end of 2016. Users can not only take their local news with them on the go, but they can also view a variety of video clips from different categories such as Weather News, Uplifting, Healthy Living, Seriously? and Politics. NewsON provides an interactive map to identify and favorite stations. Users can use Precise Point Fast Forward, a timeline viewing tool available for any local newscast, to allow precise, visual skipping to the exact moment the viewer wants to watch – from business and sports to weather and traffic. Viewers can also share what they’ve seen on social platforms such as Facebook or Twitter. On January 1, 2020, ABC Owned Television Station Group removed their eight stations from the service.
