BURBANK, CALIF. — Allen Media Group (AMG)’s digital platform Local Now, a growing hub for free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels, has added to its array of offerings by reaching an agreement with The E.W. Scripps Co. to add seven of its digital multicast networks.
The agreement with Scripps Networks brings the ION Network and six digital multicast channels to Local Now: ION Mystery, ION Plus, Bounce XL, Grit XTRA, Laff More, and the recently launched Scripps Sports Network.
“Local Now is committed to bringing viewers the very best in free streaming content, and this partnership with Scripps takes that mission to an entirely new level,” said Byron Allen, Founder and Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “These seven channels reflect the depth and diversity of content our audience craves.”
The ION Network is the home of second-run law and crime dramas and a growing slate of professional women’s sports league play-by-play, including the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Major League Volleyball, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
The diginets include spin-offs of ION focused solely on procedural crime dramas, and suspense and action series, respectively; a free streaming companion to Bounce TV, featuring original programming, classic sitcoms, and dramas that highlight Black culture and storytelling; a free streaming extension of the Grit network dedicated to Westerns and war classics; a free-streaming companion to the Laff network, delivering classic sitcoms and comedy classics, including ALF; and the recently launched Scripps Sports Network — a dedicated 24/7 streaming sports channel delivering free live sports and “sports storytelling” to audiences nationwide. At launch, the lineup of live professional sports games on SSN will include NWSL, MLV, and Pro Cheer League and original and acquired sports programming and content from Scripps Sports partnerships with NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, and NCAA Big Sky Conference.
The Local Now app is available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xfinity, Vizio, and major connected TV and mobile devices.
In addition to upward of 400 “FAST” channels, Local Now provides localized news, weather, sports, traffic, and entertainment in more than 220 markets across the U.S., offering more than 400 free streaming channels. It is one of AMG’s key revenue drivers, as it seeks to exit the broadcast television business to focus on digital and streaming initiatives along with its production studio and syndicated programming.
