Local news are coming subscribers' way this holidays, as Disney-owned ABC launched a suite of streaming apps for its Fire TV. This means that all eight of its ABC-owned stations now sport their own market-specific Amazon Fire OTT apps which features more local stories ranging from news to the weather.

Launching eight apps in total, the company covers eight stations: WLS-TV Chicago, WABC-TV New York,  WPVI-TV Philadelphia, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, KTRK-TV Houston, KFSN-TV Fresno, KABC-TV Los Angeles and KGO-TV San Francisco. Meanwhile, Freeform (formerly ABC Family), which is targeted for millennials, also features a live streaming, according to Tech Crunch.

What the new ABC apps do

According to International Business Times, these apps will be able to provide viewers with local news, weather, top stories for the night, as well as a selection of upbeat local stories for a "Feel Good" section. It also has sections like "Quick Catch Up" and "Latest Update."

More importantly, these apps are free and do not require a subscription to watch local channels. This is so the network can attract a much bigger audience, the report stated. These are now available to download in the Amazon App Store.

These new Freeform and ABC apps will also allow its viewers to stream regular programming, which include the likes of Emmy-award winning series "Modern Family," as well as "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Bachelor."

What inspired these changes

These changes are spurred on significant increases in viewing for connected TV devices, according to Wendy McMahon, senior vice president for ABC-owned stations digital media. What the new apps do in essence, she explains, is delivering local content delivery through the traditional TV medium but with the navigations and flexibility allowed on IP-based platforms, according to Broadcasting Cable.