Does Frndly TV have Local Channels? Answered Here!

Looking for a budget-friendly streaming service but wondering if you can still catch your local news and favorite network shows? If you‘ve been considering Frndly TV as your cable alternative, you probably have one pressing question: does it include local channels?

Let‘s cut to the chase with a clear answer and then explore everything you need to know about Frndly TV and local content options from a technical, data-driven perspective that helps you make the right streaming decision for your household.

The Quick Answer: Does Frndly TV Have Local Channels?

No, Frndly TV does not offer traditional local broadcast channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, or PBS.

This means you won‘t find your local news broadcasts, syndicated programming, or major network shows through a direct Frndly TV subscription. However, the service does include Local Now, a channel that provides some local content including news, weather, and community information based on your location.

If you‘re deciding whether Frndly TV is right for your household, understanding what it does and doesn‘t offer in terms of local programming is crucial. Let‘s dig deeper into what Frndly TV provides and how you might supplement it to get the local content you want.

Frndly TV: Market Position and Growth

Frndly TV launched in October 2019 as a specialized streaming service targeting an underserved market segment: viewers seeking affordable, family-friendly content. Since its launch, the service has experienced remarkable growth:

• 2019: Launched with 12 channels at $5.99/month
• 2020: Expanded to 15+ channels
• 2021: Reached approximately 500,000 subscribers according to industry estimates
• 2022: Added multiple A&E Networks channels, growing to 40+ offerings
• 2023: Now offers 50+ channels while maintaining budget-friendly pricing

This growth trajectory is particularly impressive considering Frndly TV operates in a highly competitive streaming market dominated by larger players. The service has carved out a specific niche by focusing on:

1. Family-friendly content
2. Budget-conscious pricing
3. Technical simplicity
4. Growing but carefully curated channel selection

According to internal data shared by Frndly TV executives, their subscriber base skews toward:

• Households with children
• Adults 45+ years old
• Rural and suburban viewers
• Value-conscious consumers
• Viewers particularly interested in Hallmark content and lifestyle programming

What Exactly is Frndly TV?

Frndly TV represents a distinct category in the streaming ecosystem known as a "skinny bundle" – offering a more limited selection of channels at a much lower price point than full-service alternatives. The service stands in stark contrast to comprehensive options like YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream, focusing instead on providing select content at an accessible price point.

The service stands out in the crowded streaming landscape for several key reasons:

1. Affordability: With plans starting at just $6.99 per month (as of 2023), it‘s one of the most budget-friendly live TV streaming options available
2. Family-focused content: All programming is family-appropriate
3. No contract requirement: Subscribers can cancel anytime without penalties
4. Technical simplicity: The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate
5. Consistent pricing: Unlike many competitors, Frndly TV has maintained relatively stable pricing since launch

The service delivers content from popular networks like Hallmark Channel, A&E, History Channel, Lifetime, Game Show Network, and The Weather Channel without requiring an expensive cable package.

Frndly TV Complete Channel Lineup (2023)

While local channels aren‘t included, Frndly TV‘s lineup has expanded impressively. As of 2023, subscribers get access to these 50+ channels:

This expanded lineup represents significant growth since the service‘s inception and offers a diverse range of programming that appeals to family-oriented viewers without the higher costs associated with sports and local channels.

The Economics of Local Channels: Why They‘re Missing from Frndly TV

Understanding why Frndly TV doesn‘t include local channels requires examining the complex economics of television distribution. Local channels present several significant challenges for budget streaming services:

Retransmission Fees

Traditional broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) charge streaming providers substantial "retransmission fees" for the right to include their content. According to industry data:

• Average retransmission fees have increased 62% between 2018 and 2023
• Networks charge approximately $2-$3 per subscriber per month for these channels
• For a service like Frndly TV, adding these channels would nearly double the base subscription cost

This table illustrates the estimated retransmission fees per subscriber per month as of 2023:

Adding these channels would require Frndly TV to increase monthly subscription costs by approximately $9.25 per subscriber – effectively doubling their current entry-level price.

Market-by-Market Negotiations

Another significant hurdle is the technical and business complexity of local channels:

1. There are approximately 210 designated market areas (DMAs) in the United States
2. Each market has different local affiliates for each network
3. Streaming services must negotiate separate agreements with each affiliate group
4. Technical infrastructure must identify viewer location and serve the correct local feeds

For larger services with higher subscription fees, this complexity is manageable. For a budget service like Frndly TV, the technical overhead and negotiation requirements would significantly impact their operational model.

Technical Infrastructure Requirements

Providing local channels requires:

• Sophisticated geolocation technology to determine viewer location
• Content delivery networks capable of routing local feeds to appropriate viewers
• Storage and bandwidth for hundreds of simultaneous local feeds
• Compliance with market boundary regulations

These requirements entail significant technical investments that would ultimately be passed to subscribers through higher fees.

Understanding the Local Now Channel on Frndly TV

The Local Now channel is Frndly TV‘s alternative approach to providing localized content. This service uses a fundamentally different model than traditional local broadcasts:

Technical Implementation

Local Now determines viewer location through:

• IP address geolocation
• Optional user-provided zip code
• Device location services (when available)

Based on this location data, Local Now then aggregates content from multiple sources:

This aggregation model allows Local Now to provide some local information without the costs associated with full local broadcast rights.

Content Comparison: Local Now vs. Traditional Local Channels

While Local Now provides some localized content, it lacks the depth, community connection, and comprehensive coverage that traditional local broadcasts offer.

Technical Analysis: How Local TV Broadcasting Works

To fully understand the local channel ecosystem, it‘s important to examine how local TV signals are distributed:

Traditional Over-the-Air Broadcasting

Local TV stations transmit digital signals from broadcast towers using specific frequency bands:

• VHF Low (channels 2-6): 54-88 MHz – Longer range but more susceptible to interference
• VHF High (channels 7-13): 174-216 MHz – Better balance of range and quality
• UHF (channels 14-51): 470-698 MHz – Shorter range but higher data capacity

These digital signals use the ATSC 1.0 standard (Advanced Television Systems Committee), which enables:

• HD video up to 1080i resolution
• Multiple subchannels within a single frequency allocation
• Program information through PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol)

OTT (Over-The-Top) Streaming of Local Channels

When streaming services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV offer local channels, they:

1. Receive direct feeds from the broadcaster through fiber connections
2. Transcode the content to various bitrates for adaptive streaming
3. Implement complex geolocation verification to ensure viewers only receive channels from their appropriate market
4. Deliver the content through CDNs (Content Delivery Networks)

This infrastructure requires significant investment and ongoing operational costs that ultimately get passed to subscribers.

Frndly TV Plans and Pricing: Technical Specifications

Understanding Frndly TV‘s pricing structure in technical terms helps explain the service‘s positioning:

Basic Plan – $6.99/month

• Video Quality: SD (480p)
• Bitrate: Approximately 1.5-2.0 Mbps
• Concurrent Streams: 1
• Storage: No DVR capability
• Audio: Stereo
• Device Limit: Unlimited registered devices, 1 active stream

Classic Plan – $8.99/month

• Video Quality: HD (720p)
• Bitrate: Approximately 3.0-4.0 Mbps
• Concurrent Streams: 2
• Storage: Unlimited cloud DVR (recordings stored for 3 months)
• Audio: Stereo
• Device Limit: Unlimited registered devices, 2 active streams

Premium Plan – $10.99/month

• Video Quality: HD (720p)
• Bitrate: Approximately 3.0-4.0 Mbps
• Concurrent Streams: 4
• Storage: Unlimited cloud DVR (recordings stored for 9 months)
• Audio: Stereo
• Device Limit: Unlimited registered devices, 4 active streams

All plans include the same channel lineup—the difference lies in technical specifications, simultaneous streaming capabilities, and recording options.

Comprehensive Technical Comparison: Frndly TV vs. Competitors

This detailed comparison helps visualize how Frndly TV stacks up against alternatives specifically regarding technical capabilities and local channel access:

This comparison demonstrates Frndly TV‘s position as the most affordable option with the technical tradeoff of no local channel coverage compared to the more expensive alternatives.

Cord-Cutting Trends and Frndly TV‘s Market Position

The rise of targeted streaming services like Frndly TV reflects broader industry trends in television consumption:

Cord-Cutting Statistics (2023)

• Traditional pay TV subscriptions have declined by approximately 8-10% year-over-year
• As of Q2 2023, only about 55% of US households subscribe to traditional cable or satellite
• The average cord-cutter saves approximately $100 per month
• 72% of cord-cutters cite "cost" as their primary reason for cancelling traditional TV

Market Fragmentation

The streaming market has evolved into several distinct segments:

1. Full-service replacements: YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream ($65-$75/month)
2. Mid-tier alternatives: Sling TV, Fubo TV ($35-$75/month)
3. Specialty services: Frndly TV, Philo ($7-$25/month)
4. On-demand platforms: Netflix, Disney+, Max ($7-$20/month)
5. Free ad-supported services: Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee ($0)

Frndly TV has positioned itself in the specialty service category, strategically avoiding direct competition with larger providers by:

1. Focusing on underserved content niches (family programming)
2. Maintaining significantly lower price points
3. Simplifying the user experience
4. Avoiding costly content like sports and locals

According to industry analysts, this approach has allowed Frndly TV to maintain growth even as the streaming market becomes increasingly crow