Your VIZIO Smart TV Now Offers a Selection of Local News Channels

April 2024 ยท 3 minute read

The WatchFree+ streaming service, which is included with all VIZIO smart TVs, now features a dedicated local channel category for regional news, weather, and sports. And to pad out this category, WatchFree+ just added 20 local news channels from the FOX and Gray Television networks.

For those who are unfamiliar, WatchFree+ is a free streaming platform with a wide selection of live television channels and on-demand content. It's similar to Tubi or The Roku Channel, though it's designed specifically for VIZIO smart TVs. You can download WatchFree+ from your VIZIO TV's app store, though there's a good chance that it's already installed on your VIZIO TV.

Here are all the new local channels added to VIZIO's WatchFree+ service:

FOX channels:

  • WAGA (FOX 5 - Atlanta) - Ch. 945
  • WTTG (FOX 5 - Washington DC) - Ch. 946
  • WJBK (FOX 2 - Detroit) - Ch. 947
  • KDFW (FOX 4 - Dallas) - Ch. 948
  • WTVT (FOX 13 - Tampa Bay) - Ch. 949
  • KTVU (FOX 2 - San Francisco) - Ch. 950
  • WTXF (FOX 29 - Philadelphia) - Ch. 951
  • WOFL (FOX 35 Orlando) - Ch. 952
  • KCPQ (FOX 13 Seattle) - Ch. 953
  • KTTV (FOX 11 - Los Angeles) - Ch. 955

    • Gray Television channels:

  • WANF Atlanta News First (Independent - Atlanta) - Ch. 961
  • KTVK/KPHO Arizona's Family (CBS 5 - Phoenix) - Ch. 962
  • WOIO Cleveland 19 News (CBS 19 - Cleveland/Akron) - Ch. 963
  • WBTV News (CBS 3 - Charlotte) - Ch. 964
  • KPTV (FOX 12 - Portland) - Ch. 965
  • KMOV4 News (CBS 4 - St. Louis) - Ch. 966
  • WSMV4 News (CBS 4 - Nashville) - Ch. 967
  • KCTV5 News (CBS 5 - Kansas City) - Ch. 968
  • WFSB Eyewitness News 3 (CBS 3 - Hartford/New Haven) - Ch. 969
  • WXIX-TV (FOX19 Now - Cincinnati) - Ch. 970

    • 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.

    Related: FAST Is the Latest Trend In Streaming TV, but What Is It?

    But the WatchFree+ service is up against some serious competition. It's one of many FAST platforms, but unlike Tubi or Pluto TV, it requires a VIZIO smart TV. Those who want to use a single FAST service on multiple devices or TVs may not enjoy WatchFree+'s exclusivity. (That said, WatchFree+ is quite good, and it can be quickly opened by pressing the WatchFree+ button on newer VIZIO remotes.)

    WatchFree+ is preinstalled on most new VIZIO TVs. If the app isn't already on your TV, simply download it from the VIZIO app store. Note that WatchFree+ does not require an account, and it's completely free.

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    Source: VIZIO

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