Sinclair debuts streaming service for its local TV stations

NEW YORK (AP) — Sinclair Broadcast wants to "Stirr" up streaming.

The nation's largest owner of television stations launched a free, ad-supported streaming service Wednesday drawing on local news, sports and other programs from the 191 TV stations it owns in 89 U.S. markets.

Sinclair said the motivation behind Stirr is in part to help viewers "access the local news and lifestyle programming that is relevant to their everyday life."

Sinclair was admonished by media watchdogs in April after the sports news service Deadspin pieced together clips of dozens of TV anchors for Sinclair reading from the same script. The script warned viewers about "biased and false news" from other media outlets.