| Type: | Streaming television |
| Defunct: | Status unknown |
| Location City: | Los Altos, California |
| Location Country: | United States |
| Area Served: | National Channels (Nationwide) Local Channels (see markets served) |
| Products: | Over-the-air television on Internet-connected devices |
| Parent: | Didja |
LocalBTV is an American streaming television service based in Los Altos, California and owned by Didja. The service allows subscribers to view live and DVR recorded streams of over-the-air television as well as national channels on Internet-connected devices.[1]
Similar in concept to the defunct services Locast and Aereo, LocalBTV offers local channels via streaming. However, LocalBTV has indicated they will only carry local channels that permit them to do so, thus avoiding the legal issues Aereo had, and more recently, Locast.[2] LocalBTV's target customers are viewers who cannot receive local antenna reception, or their cable, satellite, or streaming service does not carry the local broadcast channel they would like to watch.[3]
As of December 2022, none of the major networks are carried, but the service is hoping to carry them at a later time.[4] [5] Some of the channels that LocalBTV currently carries are primary and subchannels such as Cozi TV, The Country Network, getTV and NewsNet as well as bilingual channels.[5] [6] [7] [8] Some of the national channels available everywhere in the U.S. include NOST, Cozi TV, FNX and getTV, and multiple shopping networks. Also included with the app for the service is a program guide and cloud DVR service. Currently, the service is free with an optional paid version planned at a later date.[9]
In November 2023, the website went down and the various apps are no longer functioning on various platforms.[10] As of December 18, 2023, their website returned with a message that their services were temporarily paused with plans to return soon. As of July 2024, no further status updates have been made.
LocalBTV's selection of national channels are available in all markets in the United States. Currently, the selection of local channels on LocalBTV are available in 53 media markets in the United States.[11]
Currently, the service is supported on various platforms such as laptops, smartphones, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Roku streaming devices, including additional integration with Android TV's Live Channels app.[12]