The Weather Channel is planning to create a new mobile phone app for its recently launched online local news service called Local Now. The new mobile app is expected to launch sometime in June.
The online service was launched by the independent TV network that brought weather coverage to many American audiences. It offers different types of news like the local news, weather, traffic, and even sports updates. Online streaming service Sling TV by Dish Network offers this service to their viewers.
The new mobile app is expected to launch this coming June and viewers who have smart phones that have iOS or Android mobile operating systems can access this service. The account information from their favorite cable network is all they need to enter. For those who want to try the service out, they can subscribe to a free trial that will last for a week.
Chief executive Dave Shull told Reuters in an interview that news should be personalized for their viewers, can easily be accessed, and always on-demand just like a favorite TV show. He added that their viewers should not wait for the local news to come on the TV at a later time. This new mobile app is their new solution for that.
According to Engadget, there is just one issue with this new mobile app. Since their viewers need to enter their cable provider credentials, and that means those who have already severed their connections with their cable company provider will not be able to try it. Those who cannot have this type of mobile service will just have to make do with a local TV broadcast.
Local Now also has some competition like Watchup, which is available on online devices like Apple TV. The mobile app streams news that includes local coverage from different outlets in the United States. There is also another mobile app that streams live newscasts from over a hundred local US TV stations, which is called NewsOn.
Shull said that he is currently working on taking the mobile service to other streaming services to promote it. He will be getting some content partnerships for the mobile app, and even offer some interactive segments in the near future.
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