Spectrum News on Monday announced the launch of Spectrum News+, a new streaming news network that provides localized reporting and trusted stories from Spectrum News’ award-winning local news networks, as well as coverage of weather and broader topics and headlines.
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Spectrum News+ complements Spectrum News’ portfolio of over 30 local TV news networks, utilizing the resources and expertise of its local journalists to deliver insightful coverage of news and events and their impact on communities, the company said in a release.
“By combining the power of our deeply-rooted local newsrooms with objective coverage of national news and events, we are helping our audiences connect with their communities while also providing them with a comprehensive view of the world around them,” Alison Hellman, Senior Vice President of Spectrum News, said in a news release Monday.
The company said that Spectrum News+ offers 24 hours of continuous news content Monday through Friday, with plans to expand to 24/7 by the summer.
The weekday news lineup begins at 6 a.m. ET with anchor Bree Driscoll, followed by the afternoon news from noon to 6 p.m. ET anchored by a rotating lineup of Spectrum News anchors and veteran journalist Sharon Tazewell anchoring the weekday evening news starting at 6 p.m. ET.
Throughout the day, Spectrum News meteorologists will report on the latest weather events happening across the country.
In addition to news programming, Spectrum News+ will feature signature shows, including Spectrum News’ exclusive public affairs program “In Focus”; Spectrum News NY1’s premiere New York City theater show, “On Stage”; Spectrum News 1 in California’s Emmy Award-winning series “LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez”; and other specials and series from local newsrooms, the company noted.
“The launch of Spectrum News+ will allow even more of our customers to have access to our news coverage, and furthers our commitment to and investment in providing meaningful news to our audiences wherever they are, and however they want to watch it,” Hellman added.
Spectrum News+ is available to Spectrum residential customers nationwide, including those who do not live in an existing Spectrum News market, via the Spectrum News mobile app and Roku and Apple TV streaming devices.
The company said that the launch of Spectrum News+ comes at a time when its investment in objective local news is more critical than ever.
According to a recent Spectrum News/Morning Consult poll on sentiments about and trust of local news, the vast majority of Americans (87%) are satisfied with the coverage of local news in their community, whereas a recent Gallup and Knight Foundation report shows that only 35% of Americans feel national news organizations can be relied on to deliver the information they need.
By combining the power of Spectrum’s local newsrooms — and the trusted reporting from local journalists who approach news with a more thoughtful, insightful perspective — and expanding that approach to national news, Spectrum News+ will help bridge that divide, the company said in a statement.
Over the past few years, Spectrum News has launched linear TV news networks in seven states; introduced a mobile news app that has more than two million downloads; debuted three digital-only local news operations; and, late last year launched its local news app on Roku and Apple TV, underscoring its commitment to make Spectrum News available and accessible to audiences on whichever platform they prefer.
Among Spectrum customers, Spectrum News consistently outperforms the major cable and broadcast news networks, averaging more than 2.5 million viewing households each month across its linear and digital platforms that span across the country in California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.