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.

Pharma brands generated billions of ad impressions on TV during the first half of 2023, according to a report released by iSpot.tv this week.

“Arctic sea ice regulates our planet’s climate, and is essential for polar bears and humans alike,” says Krista Wright, executive director of Polar Bears International, adding, “On Arctic Sea Ice Day, we bring the Arctic to people around the world through outreach like the beloved Beluga Whale Live Cam.”

“First things first, understand your brand personality and how this can be communicated through your social media presence. This will guide how you look, feel and act, wherever you show up. For example, Wunderkind is all about unleashing the extraordinary power of human individuality. This idea sits at the heart of everything we do.

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

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.

Every weekday we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new commercials tracked by TV measurement company iSpot.tv. (Scroll down to watch them all.)

That’s according to a new report shared with Fierce Pharma Marketing by real-time ad tracker iSpot.TV. The report, which covered ad impressions for the first half of this year, found that pharma brands dominated the top 10 new brands with the highest ad impressions for TV airtime. In fact, pharma brands occupied five out of those spots including the top three positions.

GEN Z MARKETING—EVERYTHING BRANDS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REACHING YOUNG CONSUMERS

In 2022, women’s soccer amounted to 610 million US YouTube views, according to data from Tubular Labs, while views for women’s soccer this year are already at 686 million on YouTube. Other findings: US social videos about women’s basketball reached over 1.06 billion views in 2022, but six months into 2023, views have already hit 844 million — with the WNBA season and more college basketball ahead this fall. Softball views on Facebook are up from 96M to 119M.

According to Tubular Labs, this year’s Women’s World Cup already has 686 million U.S. views on YouTube, compared to 610 million U.S. YouTube views for women’s soccer for all of 2022.

Every weekday we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new commercials tracked by TV measurement company iSpot.tv.