Smart TVs are more frequently coming loaded with their own programming, as well. Manufacturers like Samsung and VIZIO operate their own ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) and free ad-supported TV (FAST) services

Welcome to our weekly snapshot of TV by the numbers, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks for July 17-23, with insights from Inscape, the currency-grade smart TV ACR data provider and data technology division of Vizio. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

“At Vizio, we are committed to driving innovation and what is possible with Smart TVs and that means moving beyond video and looking at what’s next with the biggest screen in the home,” Vizio group VP, Platform Contents & Partnerships Katherine Pond said.

The venture, called SMB MediaLabs, will let advertisers target the customers of accounting firm QuickBooks on a range of digital media properties, including audio, online publishers, social platforms like Meta, and connected TV. Intuit is working with Vizio as its exclusive CTV partner. QuickBooks had 7.1 million customers at the end of the fiscal year 2022.

RYAN: our company's named Magnite. And what our primary focus is, is to help streaming services, so TV who have commercial breaks, put commercials into their break. So it feels like least for me, who's old, the traditional commercial experience that I was used to, as you hit an ad break, you get four or five, however many commercials, we helped to do that, but just in the streaming environment.

Most of the profit comes from advertising for Vizio (and other providers like Roku.) And the company is looking to boost the opportunities to advertise in its SmartCast TV OS. According to Michael O’Donnell, Vizio’s Chief Revenue and Strategic Growth Officer, there was a 53% increase in time spent with the SmartCast home screen between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023 as users spent more time hunting for something to watch.

For pioneering LGBTQ+-focused video-streaming service Revry, it’s been a complicated time, but, its founders say, a crucial one for a service trying to provide underserved audiences with shows that speak to their lives, while connecting brands safely with a substantial, lucrative core audience.

At the July Soho Sessions, representatives from tech providers Lotame and Wunderkind pitched their services to the judging panel of Alex Kirby, Revenue Operations Director, Hello; Nick Flood, Global Ad Product & Revenue Operations Director, Future; and Chris Daniels, Chief Commercial Officer, Haymarket Automotive.

1. Pluto TV: 156 unique channels
2. Paramount: 129 unique channels
3. Televisa: 45 unique channels
4. Warner Bros. Discovery: 32 unique channels
5. VIX: 31 unique channels
6. Xumo: 29 unique channels
7. FilmRise: 26 unique channels
8. iHeartMedia: 25 unique channels
9. Vizio: 23 unique channels

On the distribution front, Davis noted ViX launched without a fully formed footprint, which it meaningfully expanded in Q2, including as a premium subscription partner on The Roku Channel, the ViX app integrated on LG smart TVs, and plans to launch on Vizio smart TVs later this quarter.

Note that VIZIO WatchFree+ previously introduced CBS News for the LA and NY areas. Today’s update greatly expands on the WatchFree+ offering, and more importantly, it sets the stage for WatchFree+’s future—VIZIO is sure to introduce more local channels to this service, including sports channels.

n a notable expansion of local streaming news options, Vizio has launched a new local channel category on its popular free streaming service, WatchFree+ and has added 20 local market news channels from Fox and Gray Television.

VIZIO smart TV owners can now tune into local news coverage from FOX and Gray Television across top designated market areas (DMAs) including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Washington DC.

At first, broadcasters were reluctant to distribute their channels online. However, the success of FASTs seems to be changing their opinion. Today, Vizio announced that 20 local broadcast stations would join its WatchFree+ built-in FAST service. The FOX and Gray Television stations will join three other stations already available. WatchFree+ now offers local channels in 20 DMAs.

Vizio has announced a new local channel category available in its free streaming service WatchFree+, featuring regional news, weather, sports and more.

One of the challenges that has been challenging consumers since the first days of cord-cutting has been how to keep abreast of local news. To make it easier for viewers to keep up with what’s happening in their necks of the woods, on Wednesday, VIZIO announced that it was making a slew of local channels available on its ad-supported streaming platform VIZIO WatchFree+.

"Vizio’s expansion of local market news in WatchFree Plus marks an exciting milestone for smart TV owners across the United States,” said Katherine Pond, Group VP, Platform Content & Partnerships at Vizio. “Through our collaboration with Gray Television and Fox, we make it possible for millions of users to stay connected with their communities with relevant and timely content through our WatchFree Plus streaming service.”

Vizio is bringing local TV channels to some of their users directly through their smart TV operating system. Vizio users in select cities will now have free access to their local Fox or Gray TV channels through Vizio's WatchFree Plus, an app on Vizio smart TVs, the company said Wednesday