Living in the era of cord-cutting presents a major challenge – how do you stream local broadcast news without cable TV? Thankfully, the NewsON app solves this by providing tons of trusted local news channels on streaming devices like Firestick, Roku, Android, and more.
NewsON gives you 100% free access to live and on-demand local newscasts from over 275 stations covering 160+ markets across the United States. That means you can now keep up with hyperlocal weather, traffic, politics, sports, and events without paying a penny.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about NewsON. Let‘s dive in!
An Introduction to NewsON
First, let‘s cover the basics – what NewsON is, how it works, and what it offers.
What is NewsON?
NewsON is a free app for streaming live and on-demand local TV news. It provides newscasts from over 275 local stations owned by ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and independent broadcasters.
What channels are on NewsON?
You‘ll get access to local affiliates from the major broadcast networks, including:
- ABC stations like WABC New York and KABC Los Angeles
- CBS outlets such as WCBS New York and KCBS Los Angeles
- NBC affiliates like WNBC New York and KNBC Los Angeles
- FOX stations, for example, WNYW New York and KTTV Los Angeles
- PBS member stations like WNET New York and KCET Los Angeles
There are also many independent local stations on NewsON.
How does NewsON work?
NewsON has partnerships with these local stations to live stream their over-the-air broadcast feeds. The streams are then delivered through NewsON‘s app on your streaming device or smartphone.
What devices support NewsON?
NewsON is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android, iOS, Chromecast, and web browsers. You can install it on phones, tablets, streaming boxes, smart TVs, and computers.
Is NewsON really free?
Yes! The app is 100% free to install and use. The only catch is you‘ll see advertisements while watching to support the service.
How many markets are available?
Over 160 media markets across the United States have NewsON local channel availability. This covers around 75% of U.S. households.
Now that you understand what NewsON is all about, let‘s take a deeper look at how it delivers local news over the internet to your devices.
How Does NewsON Work? A Closer Look at the Technology
NewsON provides live broadcasts thanks to special partnerships, delivery infrastructure, and app technology:
Local station partnerships – NewsON has agreements with over 275 local TV stations from major networks. This allows them to take the over-the-air signals and stream online.
Video delivery network – Streams are distributed globally through NewsON‘s robust CDN (content delivery network). This ensures smooth, high-quality streams.
Apps – The NewsON apps for Firestick, Roku, mobile, etc allow you to easily access these live streams on your devices via the internet.
Free, ad-supported model – Instead of subscriptions, NewsON is free and makes money from the ads you see during newscasts. This pays for the streaming rights.
Broadcast delay – Streams are a bit delayed from the actual live TV broadcast, usually by around 1-2 minutes. This allows time for NewsON to receive and process the video.
Adaptive bitrate streaming – NewsON uses optimized streaming protocols like HLS that adapt to your internet connection speed for the best experience.
This is a slick and efficient system that brings local broadcast channels over the internet to any device, no cable required!
Next let‘s look at how to install and use NewsON on the most popular platforms.
How to Install NewsON on Firestick & Fire TV
Here is a step-by-step guide to installing the NewsON app on any Fire TV streaming device:
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From your Firestick or Fire TV home screen, hover over the Find option and click to search.
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Type in "NewsON" and select the NewsON app from the search results.
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Click the Get button to begin downloading NewsON to your device.
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Once installed, select Open to launch the NewsON app.
That‘s all it takes to get NewsON up and running on your Firestick, Fire TV Cube, or Fire TV Edition television!
Now let‘s walk through getting NewsON installed on Roku devices.
How to Get NewsON on Roku Players & Roku TVs
Follow these quick steps to add the NewsON channel on your Roku streaming player or Roku TV:
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From the Roku home screen, go to the Search option and search for "NewsON".
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Select the NewsON channel from the search results.
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Click Add Channel to begin installing NewsON on your Roku device.
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Once added, select OK then choose to open the NewsON channel.
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The app will launch on your Roku. Enjoy local news!
It‘s super simple to start streaming live and on-demand local broadcasts through NewsON on your Roku.
Now let‘s move on to Android and iOS installation.
Getting NewsON on Your Android or Apple iOS Device
The process to install NewsON on your Android or iOS phone or tablet couldn‘t be easier.
For Android:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Search for "NewsON".
- Tap Install next to the NewsON app.
- Open NewsON from your device‘s app drawer after installing.
For iOS:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- Search for "NewsON" and select the app.
- Tap Get to download and install NewsON.
- You can then open NewsON from your home screen.
You‘ll have to enable permissions like location and notifications when launching the app. Then pick your desired city or station and you‘re all set!
Up next let‘s explore which cities and stations are available on NewsON.
What Major Cities and Media Markets Are Supported by NewsON?
NewsON provides local news streams from over 160 cities and metro areas across the United States.
Some of the major media markets with NewsON support include:
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, CA
- Washington, DC
- Houston, TX
- Boston, MA
- Atlanta, GA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- Seattle/Tacoma, WA
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Denver, CO
- Cleveland/Akron/Canton, OH
- Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, FL
- Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA
- St. Louis, MO
- Portland, OR
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Charlotte, NC
- Nashville, TN
- Baltimore, MD
- Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, NC
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Diego, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Kansas City, MO
- Columbus, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Cincinnati, OH
- Las Vegas, NV
- Jacksonville, FL
- Austin, TX
- New Orleans, LA
Check the full list of NewsON cities to confirm coverage in your area.
Now let‘s look at how NewsON stacks up against other cord-cutting news options.
How NewsON Compares to Other Streaming News Services
There are a few different ways to stream live local news without cable or satellite. Here is how NewsON stacks up against the competition:
| Service | Pricing | Local Channels | Cloud DVR | Other Content | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NewsON | Free | 275+ stations in 160+ markets | No | Local news only | Totally free; Wide availability | Limited features; Contains ads |
| Locast | Free | 50+ stations in 25+ markets | No | Local news only | Free service; Non-profit | Small coverage area; Fewer channels |
| Sling TV | $40+/month | Select locals in some markets | Yes | 200+ cable channels | DVR storage; Extensive content | Can be expensive; Limited local availability |
| YouTube TV | $65/month | ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox in 90% of markets | Yes, unlimited hours | 85+ channels | Robust DVR; Leading availability | No PBS; High monthly cost |
| OTA antenna | One-time cost | All major locals & more | Yes, with DVR | Anything broadcast over-the-air | One-time equipment cost; No-fee viewing | Need outdoor/attic antenna; Weather impacts |
As you can see, NewsON stands out for being completely free while still offering tons of local stations across a wide coverage area. The trade-off is you don‘t get DVR capabilities or additional news content beyond local broadcast channels.
For the price, NewsON provides excellent local news access to cord cutters nationwide.
Tips for Getting the Best Experience with NewsON
Here are some tips and tricks to optimize your NewsON streaming experience:
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Favorite stations you watch often for quick access from the NewsON home screen.
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Adjust video quality in the app settings based on your internet speeds for smooth streaming.
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Enable closed captions in the player options if your local station supports subtitles.
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Use an ethernet connection instead of WiFi whenever possible for faster, more reliable streaming.
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Check broadcast schedule for live programming times if a station isn‘t streaming.
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Report errors via email to [email protected] for any technical issues.
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Rotate to landscape on mobile devices for a widescreen 16:9 view filling your display.
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Use a VPN if you get a geo-restricted error message when traveling outside your home market.
With these tips in mind, you can troubleshoot problems and get flawless picture quality. Your local news will stream like a pro!
Conclusion: Get Your Local News Fix with the NewsON App
We‘ve just scratched the surface of everything NewsON offers. With the app, stream live and on-demand local broadcasts from ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and other stations covering over 160 metro areas across the country.
NewsON works great on streaming devices like Fire TV and Roku without any subscription or fees. Just download for free and start watching your hometown news, traffic, weather, sports, and more!
Visit NewsON.us to confirm local channel availability in your city and get started streaming. Ditch cable but keep your local news with NewsON.
