TEGNA Announces Major Local News Expansion: Adding More than 100 Hours of New Daily Programming Across 50+ Markets
- Significant expansion adding 100+ hours of daily local news programming reaching 100M+ viewers
- Early testing showed up to 50% monthly viewership increase in pilot markets
- Creates new advertising revenue opportunities through expanded streaming presence
- Multi-platform distribution strategy across streaming, web, and broadcast channels
- None.
Insights
TEGNA's strategic expansion into morning streaming news addresses changing viewer habits while creating new advertising revenue opportunities.
TEGNA's announcement represents a significant strategic pivot in local news distribution, with the company expanding into the 7-9 a.m. streaming window across 50+ markets. This move addresses a critical gap in local news coverage during morning hours while capitalizing on the accelerating shift toward connected TV consumption. The scale is substantial – over 100 hours of daily programming reaching a potential audience of 100+ million viewers.
Early market testing has demonstrated promising results, with viewership increases of nearly 50% month-over-month in test markets, with even higher spikes during severe weather and breaking news events. This validates TEGNA's strategy and suggests untapped audience demand during this timeframe.
From a business perspective, this expansion creates valuable new advertising inventory during premium morning hours when engagement is typically high. By making content available across multiple digital touchpoints (streaming apps, websites, and select broadcast networks), TEGNA is positioning itself to capture audience regardless of platform preference.
This initiative aligns with broader industry trends where local broadcasters are working to maintain relevance amid streaming fragmentation. By leveraging their existing news operations and extending their reach to digital platforms, TEGNA is building additional value from its core content assets while establishing stronger digital distribution channels that will be increasingly important as viewing habits continue to evolve.
Broadcaster adding dedicated 7-9 a.m. streaming programming to meet increased demand for local coverage on connected TV platforms
TYSONS, Va., June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that its stations will be significantly expanding their already substantial local news programming by launching live and on-demand, local newscasts from 7 to 9 a.m. daily in 50+ markets through streaming, connected TV apps, and station websites.
This unprecedented expansion of local news programming is designed to meet audiences’ growing demand for coverage of their communities wherever they want to watch and will deliver over 100 hours of daily breaking news, weather, and traffic to over 100 million viewers.
“Local news drives daily decisions,” said Adrienne Roark, chief content officer at TEGNA. “With the debut of our new programming, our audiences will now have the option to watch live news produced by their trusted stations during a time of day when local coverage has been largely unavailable. In addition to serving our viewers, it will also create new opportunities for our advertisers to reach audiences regardless of where they are and how they consume our content.”
Roark continued, “This content expansion reinforces our companywide commitment to local news and we’re confident that it will further strengthen our newsrooms, enhance the viewer experience, support our communities and deliver value to all stakeholders.”
TEGNA stations across the country, including KGW in Portland, Oregon, WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina, and WKYC in Cleveland, Ohio, began testing the live digital news stream in the 7 a.m. time slot earlier this year. In some markets, viewership increased by nearly 50 percent month-over-month, spiking even higher during severe weather or times of breaking news.
Stations in 35 markets will be actively delivering live, local programming from 7 to 9 a.m. this summer, with 50+ markets expected to have live, local programming in that window this fall.
To watch the local morning livestreams from 7-9 a.m. on your TEGNA station:
Viewers can download and open the TEGNA station Plus app on a streaming device such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or visit their local station’s website to access the live stream directly from a web browser. In select markets, this new programming will also be available on our secondary broadcast networks.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news. For more information, visit TEGNA.com.
For media inquiries, contact:
Molly McMahon
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
703-873-6422
mmcmahon@tegna.com
For investor inquiries, contact:
Julie Heskett
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
703-873-6747
investorrelations@TEGNA.com
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