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Watch Local Channels for FREE Without a Cable Subscription

Tired of increasing re-transmission charges? We are too! Every three years, TrioTel Communications, Inc. is required to renegotiate the retransmission consent agreements with affiliate broadcast stations. We have contracts that enable us to carry KSFY, KDLT, FOX, and KELO on our cable network. When negotiations take place, broadcasters always have the upper hand, and if demands are not met, broadcasters will force cable providers like TrioTel, to remove their programming from their system. As a small cooperative, TrioTel’s lack of negotiating leverage leaves us at the mercy of broadcasters. We ultimately have no other choice than to agree with their demands and consent to increasing fees on a monthly per-subscriber basis.

To avoid retransmission fee’s, these channels can be watched for FREE after downloading an app to your streaming device or smart TV, and we want to teach you how easy it is to do that!

1. First you will need a device that allows you to download apps and stream content. This can be a Smart TV or streaming device such as Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast, just to name a few.

2. To sign up, register at Locast.org by providing an email address and password. Once you confirm your email, you’ll be able to stream using the Locast app or by visiting Locast.org.

3. Before you can stream from a supported device, the service requires that you enter an activation code. Simply go to locast.org/activate and enter the code that’s displayed on your TV screen.

Once you’ve finished the initial setup process, you’ll see a live TV guide that looks something like this:

From my home, Locast streams KTTW, KELO, KSFY, KDLT, PBS and a number of digital subchannels.

The live TV guide is simple and cannot be customized. It lets you preview the TV schedule up to a week in advance.

Is Locast Really FREE?

There is no charge to use Locast, but the streaming TV service relies on individual donations to offset its operating costs. When you’re streaming for free, you can expect to be interrupted every 15 minutes or so with an “request for donation advertisement”. To eliminate these interruptions, you can donate as little as $5 a month plus a processing fee of 50 cents.

As always, let us know if you have any questions. We are happy to provide assistance and want you to have access to local news programs!