Cord-cutters get another choice with TV streamer Locast

TV viewers looking to cut the cord and drop their cable or satellite services are getting a new option that could expand their options.

Locast, a nonprofit streaming TV provider, made its services available in the Bay Area and Los Angeles areas over the weekend. The two markets are the first on the West Coast for New York-based Locast, which began offering streaming services last year.

Locast offers customers 40 broadcast TV station channels in the Bay Area, including local network affiliates. The concept is similar to that of using a digital TV antenna to receive over-the-air TV stations.

However, Locast differs in that subscribers can stream channel offerings on smart TVs, via devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV, as well as on their smartphones, tablets and computer browsers. Viewers also can watch Locast programming on their TVs by using Apple’s AirPlay feature, along with the iOS app and an AppleTV, or via Google Chromecast when used with the Android app or Chrome browser.

Among the channels available to Bay Area viewers are KTVU (Fox), KPIX (CBS), KNTV (NBC), KGO (ABC), KQED (PBS) and several independent, Spanish-language and specialty themed broadcast networks.

Locast also differs by operating as a nonprofit, a designation that allows it to re-transmit local TV stations without having to pay copyright license fees, or even get permission from broadcasters to carry their channels on its service.

Locast offers its service for free, but asks viewers for monthly donations starting at $5 to help support its expansion and broadcasting efforts.

With the addition of the Bay Area and Los Angeles markets, Locust says company its service is available in 13 U.S. markets, and reaches up to 35 million homes across the country.