For the NAB and the Big Four broadcast TV networks, it’s Stop! Stand there where you are,
before you go too far.
Tell that to David Goodfriend, Founder and Chairman of Locast. If there’s any tune he’s humming along to, it has the lyrics, And we can build this dream together, standing strong forever … Nothing’s gonna stop us now.
Despite efforts in court to squelch the donation-based, IP-distributed “free” TV service, Locast has just entered its 35th market.
As of today, Locast users in the Pittsburgh DMA, which includes Morgantown, W. Va., and Garrett County, Md., can stream more than 40 broadcast channels.
It brings stations owned by Hearst Television, ViacomCBS, Cox Media Group, The E.W. Scripps Co., Sinclair Broadcast Group and public broadcasting giant WQED to those in Western Pennsylvania’s biggest market.
But, they won’t be benefitting from additional retransmission consent revenue. That’s because Locast defines itself as a non-profit service that simply takes what’s available over the air for fee and brings it to viewers in a IP-based setting as a community and consumer benefit. Given the terrain across the market, even within the metropolitan area and the “Mon Valley” to the south, Locast could indeed be a big plus to those who wish to say goodbye to Comcast Xfinity service — a near monopoly in Pittsburgh. In the Monongahela Valley’s most rural of communities, Armstrong is the dominant service provider.
For those in the Uniontown, Pa., area, Atlantic Broadband is the main MVPD. If you don’t want that service or wish to pay for a DBS provider, what can one pull in via an over-the-air antenna affixed to a TV? Not much.
CBS O&O KDKA-2 is difficult to receive, while Hearst’s WTAE-4, the ABC affiliate, is spotty. For FOX viewers, it’s a toss-up between Sinclair’s WPGH-53 or Sinclair-operated WWCP-8 in Johnstown, Pa. The lone stations that one can easily receive are Cox Media Group’s NBC affiliated WPXI-11 and WNPB-24 in Morgantown, W. Va., the local PBS Member station; WQED can’t be received over the air.
Locast resolves these issues. And, in the words of Goodfriend, “Locast is an invaluable free tool for residents to stay informed about major storms, health updates, local news, weather, and sports on local broadcast TV. Pittsburgh residents can watch their local TV channels using Locast on their phones, tablets, laptops or streaming media devices.”
And, they can cast those devices to their televisions.
While Locast doesn’t cost anything to use, it is donation-based. As such, expect a flood of donation requests akin to your local Classical or NPR noncommercial radio station to help fund the service. Locast isn’t even shy about how important donations starting at $60 per year are vital to keeping the lights on, and the expansion on track — nevermind its legal costs against the NAB and the Big Four networks.
Locast’s announcement heralding its arrival in the ‘Burgh notes that university students are able to quality for Locast Cares Program. This is a way for users “who cannot donate financially to watch their local TV channels without receiving donation-request interruptions.”
The program is open to the first 25,000 applicants and is available for one year. Students, first responders and low income households, among others, can qualify. Otherwise, users who don’t fork over a suggested minimum donation of $5 per month to the “free” service are subject to pestering.
The arrival of Locast in Pittsburgh follows the addition of Columbus, Ohio, roughly three weeks ago.
