News Over Wireless has launched the first live mobile streaming of local television station programming. WRAL, the News Over Wireless affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina, is now streaming live video from its NewsChannel to mobile phones. WRAL kicked off this new service by airing their annual holiday tower lighting on their mobile application, WRAL Wireless.

The WRAL-TV tower lights up via live streaming to mobile phones.

“We are delighted to add live video streaming to our mobile offerings. The tower lighting made for a unique event, but this really provides a venue to deliver breaking news to viewers on the go,” said Sam Matheny, General Manager of News Over Wireless. “WRAL pushed us for this innovative and important technology and we plan to make it available to all our station affiliates in the coming year.”

Live video streaming is currently available through News Over Wireless’ Sprint mobile applications and on its Sprint TV channel, My Local TV.

To date, News Over Wireless has partnered with 81 stations to deliver text, graphics and video coverage of local news, formatted for mobile phones. With the addition of live streaming, News Over Wireless continues their technology leadership and now offers a richer mobile experience for local news viewers.

CBC NMG's Anita Normanly stands behind the scenes at the tower lighting broadcast, making sure the live streaming comes in over her cell phone.

To launch its live video offering on mobile, WRAL aired its 48th annual holiday tower lighting. The lighting turns WRAL’s 300 foot tower into a giant Christmas tree, adorned with 2,805 lights.

WRAL will use its on-going live video stream to deliver local news, weather and breaking news.

“Reaching our viewers with live breaking news on their mobile phones presents an exciting opportunity,” said Rick Gall, WRAL News Director. “Our partnership with News Over Wireless enables us to deliver news and information to viewers whenever and wherever they need it.”