VIZIO Launches New Local Channel Category in WatchFree+ Streaming Service — Adding 20 Channels
VIZIO (NYSE: VZIO) announced today a new local channel category is now available in its popular free streaming service, WatchFree+, improving search and discovery for consumers looking for the latest in regional news, weather, sports and more. With 20 local market news channels from FOX and Gray Television, VIZIO smart TV owners can now tune into local news coverage across top designated market areas (DMAs) including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Washington DC.
“From Atlanta to Phoenix to Cleveland, viewers can now stay connected to their local news, weather, and sports, all with the convenience of their VIZIO Smart TV.”Tweet this
The WatchFree+ programming guide provides a complete list of free channels available in the new local channel category, including:
| FOX channels: | |
| 1. | WAGA (FOX 5 – Atlanta) – Ch. 945 |
| 2. | WTTG (FOX 5 – Washington DC) – Ch. 946 |
| 3. | WJBK (FOX 2 – Detroit) – Ch. 947 |
| 4. | KDFW (FOX 4 – Dallas) – Ch. 948 |
| 5. | WTVT (FOX 13 – Tampa Bay) – Ch. 949 |
| 6. | KTVU (FOX 2 – San Francisco) – Ch. 950 |
| 7. | WTXF (FOX 29 – Philadelphia) – Ch. 951 |
| 8. | WOFL (FOX 35 Orlando) – Ch. 952 |
| 9. | KCPQ (FOX 13 Seattle) – Ch. 953 |
| 10. | KTTV (FOX 11 – Los Angeles) – Ch. 955 |
| Gray Television channels: | |
| 11. | WANF Atlanta News First (Independent – Atlanta) – Ch. 961 |
| 12. | KTVK/KPHO Arizona’s Family (CBS 5 – Phoenix) – Ch. 962 |
| 13. | WOIO Cleveland 19 News (CBS 19 – Cleveland/Akron) – Ch. 963 |
| 14. | WBTV News (CBS 3 – Charlotte) – Ch. 964 |
| 15. | KPTV (FOX 12 – Portland) – Ch. 965 |
| 16. | KMOV4 News (CBS 4 – St. Louis) – Ch. 966 |
| 17. | WSMV4 News (CBS 4 – Nashville) – Ch. 967 |
| 18. | KCTV5 News (CBS 5 – Kansas City) – Ch. 968 |
| 19. | WFSB Eyewitness News 3 (CBS 3 – Hartford/New Haven) – Ch. 969 |
| 20. | WXIX-TV (FOX19 Now – Cincinnati) – Ch. 970 |
| Existing local channels include: | |
| 21. | CBS News Los Angeles – Ch. 160 |
| 22. | CBS News New York – Ch. 161 |
| 23. | News 12 New York – Ch. 162 |
“We are thrilled to partner with VIZIO in launching these local channels on WatchFree+,” said Pat LaPlatney, President & Co-CEO of Gray Television. “From Atlanta to Phoenix to Cleveland, viewers can now stay connected to their local news, weather, and sports, all with the convenience of their VIZIO Smart TV.”
WatchFree+ provides VIZIO users with access to a wide range of local and national news channels, including but not limited to TD Ameritrade Network, Bloomberg Originals, CBC News, CBS News, Cheddar News, CNN RePlay, FOX Weather, LiveNOW from FOX, NBC News NOW, Reuters, Scripps News, The Hill, USA TODAY, WeatherNation, Yahoo Finance.
“VIZIO’s expansion of local market news in WatchFree+ marks an exciting milestone for smart TV owners across the United States,” said Katherine Pond, Group Vice President, Platform Content & Partnerships at VIZIO. “Through our collaboration with Gray Television and FOX, we make it possible for millions of users to stay connected with their communities with relevant and timely content through our WatchFree+ streaming service.”
To access local channels on WatchFree+, VIZIO smart TV owners can simply navigate to the WatchFree+ app on their devices, select local channels from the categories menu and choose the desired channel from the programming guide. Once selected, users can favorite the channel for seamless navigation and future viewing.
WatchFree+ is like cable TV, but streaming and free. With hundreds of channels and thousands of popular on-demand TV series and movies, there is something for everyone.
About VIZIO
Founded and headquartered in Orange County, California, our mission at VIZIO Holding Corp. (NYSE: VZIO) is to deliver immersive entertainment and compelling lifestyle enhancements that make our products the center of the connected home. We are driving the future of televisions through our integrated platform of cutting-edge Smart TVs and powerful operating system. We also offer a portfolio of innovative sound bars that deliver consumers an elevated audio experience. Our platform gives content providers more ways to distribute their content and advertisers more tools to connect with the right audience.
For more information, visit VIZIO.com and follow VIZIO on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
