LocalBTV has been able to avoid the legal troubles of similar services like Locast and Aereo by securing permission from local broadcast signal owners for inclusion in the service. (LocalBTV/Didja)
By Ben Munson
Source: www.fiercevideo.com, January 2022


LocalBTV, a streaming service for local broadcast channels, has added another two markets and hopes to reach 100 total by the end of 2022.

The service’s two newest markets are Cincinnati and Toledo, bringing its current total up to 21. Jim Long, CEO of LocalBTV parent company Didja, said that both new markets are starting with fewer than 10 channels but that figure should double soon.

LocalBTV plans to reveal its next 20 markets soon and Long added that a still-unannounced partnership will be key to that expansion.

“Because we have a unique edge network, ‘the simplest, fastest, lowest-cost way to get a local channel, antenna or IP, to a local DMA viewer,’ we go where our partners are,” said Long in an email, noting that LocalBTV has entered large DMAs like Atlanta and Chicago and smaller markets like Biloxi, Mississippi.

LocalBTV’s edge network requires edge tuners and servers and Long said server delivery has been challenging due to the supply chain constraints with chips, which makes it difficult to predict precise dates for new market launches.

Long said the goal is provide local TV access to more than 80% of the U.S. by end of the year but he’s certain LocalBTV will reach 50% reach as soon as the necessary chips and servers can be procured.

“As a local independent station, we’re constantly trying to reach as many viewers in as many ways as possible. LocalBTV helps us with that,” said Lynn Londen, owner of KAZT in the Phoenix-Prescott DMA, in a statement. “LocalBTV allows our viewers to take us with them on-the-go. In some cases, PhoenixBTV reaches viewers in areas with poor reception, giving them a way to watch us for the first time.”

LocalBTV has been able to avoid the legal troubles of similar services like Locast and Aereo by securing permission from local broadcast signal owners for inclusion in the service. So far that approach has meant LocalBTV carries PBS, some digital networks and foreign-language channels, but not major broadcast networks from ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Still, it’s added up to significant lineups in some markets: Long said SoCalBTV carries 70 of the 110 available over-the-air channels. In addition to streaming TV access, LocalBTV includes features like cloud-based DVR recording, a program guide and public access-like “hyper-local” Community Video channels.

LocalBTV is available on Android and iOS devices along with Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, LG TVs and on the web. The company plans to soon launch on app for Samsung and Vizio connected TV platforms.