WRAL/WRAZ on the Fox Local app?

[Dave Lampstein 106]

Not sure if I’ve just missed this for months but switching stations today while traveling and the Fox Local app listed FOX50 in Raleigh as an option and it streams WRAL newscasts. I think they are the only non-Fox O&O on the app.

Thought it was a little weird… maybe they’re extending the tech to other companies who don’t want to go through the hassle of building an app to stream? Makes sense for a company the size of Capitol. 

[GraphicsMan 114]

15 minutes ago, Dave Lampstein said:

Not sure if I’ve just missed this for months but switching stations today while traveling and the Fox Local app listed FOX50 in Raleigh as an option and it streams WRAL newscasts. I think they are the only non-Fox O&O on the app.

Thought it was a little weird… maybe they’re extending the tech to other companies who don’t want to go through the hassle of building an app to stream? Makes sense for a company the size of Capitol. 

Interesting very interesting.

[mre29 1519]

I just downloaded the app to my iPad to check it, but WRAZ isn't listed as an option. Maybe it was added by mistake?

 

[Dave Lampstein 106]

Custom logo and tiles make me think mistake is not likely. 

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

Perhaps FOX is plotting a hostile takeover of WRAZ?

Raleigh/Durham could use another voice in the market, and WRAZ could stand on their own. 

Even WRAL operated them independently for a while in Durham before finally consolidating with the mothership in Raleigh.

 

More likely, FOXLocal is beginning to sub-license affiliate stations in other markets.  It's slim pickings because the other large groups are FOX affiliates in most cases, unless they are tied with their affiliate agreement to stream local newscasts on the app going forward.

Edited Friday at 11:23 PM by tyrannical bastard

[nathannah 2428]

WRAL's streaming strategy is a big firehose with multiple services rather than just limiting it to certain websites and services (and times... *cough* Perry Sook ), including an open stream of their WRAL+/WNGT-CD service on YouTube, so this isn't a surprise; just another means to get their news out there. I wouldn't worry about any takeovers; this is just a broadcasting company that remembers the 'broad' part of the name and Fox letting them do so through that affiliation agreement, the same way they carry WAGA's audio on an HD2 radio subchannel through Audacy, and I'd expect this will be the first of many FoxLocal streaming deals (or perhaps a part of the upcoming cord-cutting app in planning).

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

37 minutes ago, nathannah said:

WRAL's streaming strategy is a big firehose with multiple services rather than just limiting it to certain websites and services (and times... *cough* Perry Sook ), including an open stream of their WRAL+/WNGT-CD service on YouTube, so this isn't a surprise; just another means to get their news out there. I wouldn't worry about any takeovers; this is just a broadcasting company that remembers the 'broad' part of the name and Fox letting them do so through that affiliation agreement, the same way they carry WAGA's audio on an HD2 radio subchannel through Audacy, and I'd expect this will be the first of many FoxLocal streaming deals (or perhaps a part of the upcoming cord-cutting app in planning).

Being a savvy mom & pop operation, this actually makes sense.  No corporate directives to use "their" platform. 

Just use their absolute dominance to send their signal every which way because everyone is watching to begin with!  And FOX gets a willing affiliate who wants to make their news product part of their national offerings, on their own accord, not a forced clause in their affiliation agreement.

Edited Saturday at 01:21 AM by tyrannical bastard

[GraphicsMan 114]

On 4/11/2025 at 7:21 PM, tyrannical bastard said:

Perhaps FOX is plotting a hostile takeover of WRAZ?

Raleigh/Durham could use another voice in the market, and WRAZ could stand on their own. 

Even WRAL operated them independently for a while in Durham before finally consolidating with the mothership in Raleigh.

Ha! I wish.

On 4/11/2025 at 8:43 PM, nathannah said:

WRAL's streaming strategy is a big firehose with multiple services rather than just limiting it to certain websites and services (and times... *cough* Perry Sook ), including an open stream of their WRAL+/WNGT-CD service on YouTube, so this isn't a surprise; just another means to get their news out there. I wouldn't worry about any takeovers; this is just a broadcasting company that remembers the 'broad' part of the name and Fox letting them do so through that affiliation agreement, the same way they carry WAGA's audio on an HD2 radio subchannel through Audacy, and I'd expect this will be the first of many FoxLocal streaming deals (or perhaps a part of the upcoming cord-cutting app in planning).

Yeah I think this is a business decision. Nothing else. But hey maybe someday FOX would buy WRAZ, there talking about baseball in Raleigh don’t wanna get to off topic, but they’ve been talking about it.