Streaming technology company Zeam is acquiring local news aggregator NewsOn from Sinclair Broadcast Group, a deal that absorbs a network of hundreds of stations and expands Zeam’s content footprint to every U.S. market.
- A play for scale: The acquisition brings NewsOn’s network of nearly 300 local stations onto Zeam's platform. The company already partners with broadcast giants like CBS and Gray Media, and in 2024 launched its own free, ad-supported service focused on live local content.
- The broader shake-up: The deal lands just as Sinclair signals a major portfolio review, coming only a day after the company announced it was exploring “strategic alternatives” for its broadcast television business.
- Rebranded and rebooted: NewsOn isn't disappearing. The service will continue as a standalone platform, even as its content gets folded into the main Zeam app. Rebranded as “NewsON. Powered by Zeam,” the standalone service will now run on Zeam's technology.
Zeam is aggressively rolling up the fragmented local news streaming market, betting that a single, comprehensive platform is the best defense against the decline of linear TV.
- The wider view: The deal is part of a larger consolidation trend in local media, with other recent moves including Gray Media's acquisition of stations from Allen Media Group. Meanwhile, Zeam is also focused on distribution, recently inking a deal to get its app on LG smart TVs, while its partners like Gray Media are expanding their own FAST channels to broadcast lineups.
