ABC Local News, Scripps Sports and the Emmys Expand Beyond Traditional TV

ABC Owned Television Stations is extending eight local FAST news channels into streaming audio through a distribution agreement with TuneIn, the latest example of television programming being repackaged for audiences beyond conventional TV screens. Announced October 21, the agreement adds feeds from WABC in New York, KABC in Los Angeles, WLS in Chicago, WPVI in Philadelphia, KGO in San Francisco, KTRK in Houston, WTVD in Raleigh-Durham and KFSN in Fresno. Their local news, weather and Localish programming will be available through TuneIn’s mobile app, website, smart speakers and connected-vehicle integrations. (thedesk.net)

The arrangement gives ABC’s station content another path to consumers who may be driving, traveling or otherwise unable to watch a television screen. It also expands an existing relationship between TuneIn and Disney-owned programming: TuneIn previously added the ABC News “20/20 True Crime” channel. TuneIn, which is owned by Stingray, says its service reaches more than 75 million monthly active users in 122 countries and works across more than 200 connected devices and vehicle integrations. (thedesk.net)

A separate Scripps launch illustrates traffic moving in the opposite direction—from creator platforms into professionally programmed streaming television. On October 21, Scripps Sports Network is scheduled to premiere “Total Replay with the Makeshift Project,” adapting the YouTube channel and podcast hosted by Zach Misischia and Brian Conforth into a 10-episode FAST series. Scripps will air 30-minute episodes Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern, while extended one-hour versions will appear the following day on the Scripps Sports YouTube channel. Guests include Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar, Chari Hawkins, Kazeem “Kaz” Famuyide, Robin Lundberg and Megan Eugenio. (tvtechnology.com)

Meanwhile, Byron Allen is pursuing an additional streaming outlet for “Comics Unleashed” and “Funny You Should Ask,” which currently anchor Allen Media Group’s two-hour CBS late-night block. The prospective deal had not been finalized or its platform identified. (tvnewscheck.com)

The largest long-term move is the Television Academy’s six-year agreement making Prime Video the exclusive global home of the Emmy Awards beginning in 2027. The live ceremony will be free without a Prime subscription in more than 240 countries and territories, replacing the awards’ rotation among ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. Together, these deals show television owners treating broadcast, FAST, creator video, streaming audio and global streaming as interconnected distribution windows rather than separate businesses. (aboutamazon.com)