Cord-cutters take note: Locast is offering free, local broadcast television signals via streaming in Pittsburgh.
In Pittsburgh, Locast delivers more than 40 local channels, including all the major broadcast channels (KDKA, WPXI, WTAE, WQED, WPGH, WPCW) and their digital subchannels, including StartTV (2.2), Cozi (4.2), MeTV (11.2), Comet (22.3) and Decades (61.6).
The service, which operates as a free nonprofit but does feature donation-request interruptions, is available at locast.org and as an app on Google Play, Apple TV, TiVo, Android TV, Amazon, Roku and on some DISH/DirecTV receivers. Locast does not offer a DVR service.
The Locast Cares Program, available to students and those who cannot afford to donate to Locast, is available to the first 25,000 applicants for one year.
(Donation requests cut off live programming every 15 minutes and returns viewers to the programming guide. To avoid such interruptions, Locast requires a $5 monthly donation plus a 50-cent processing fee.)
Locast launched in 2018 and has attempted to evade the legal clutches of broadcasters — they are suing Locast, alleging collusion and copyright infringement — by operating as a nonprofit under the Copyright Act of 1976 that allows translator services to rebroadcast local stations without receiving a copyright license from broadcasters.
Viewers can register for Locast service at Locast.org.
