Local Now: News, Movies & TV for Android
Local Now: News, Movies & TV is a free news and entertainment streaming app from Weather Group, LLC for watching local broadcasts and on-demand titles.
Download Local Now · v6.5.17Local Now: News, Movies & TV suits viewers who want local news and weather alongside movies and shows without paying for a subscription. The app costs nothing to download and use, carries ads, and requires Android 5.1 or later; it has been available since June 2016 and has passed 1 million installs.
Screenshots
- Version
- 6.5.17
- Requires Android
- 5.1
- Updated
- Apr 6, 2026
- Installs
- 1M+
- Rating
- ★ 3.99 (3,460)
- Category
- News & Magazines
- Developer
- Weather Group, LLC
- Content rating
- Teen
- Package
- com.weathergroup.localnow
- Free
- ✓ · Contains ads
Local Now: News, Movies & TV is a news and streaming app by Weather Group, LLC that aggregates local news, weather forecasts, live channels and on-demand movies and shows in one free interface. The practical problem it addresses is fragmentation: instead of switching between a weather service, several news feeds and a separate streaming app, viewers get a single place to follow what is happening in their own city and to watch entertainment without a subscription. The app builds a personalized feed, called My Stream, from stories across many US cities, and pairs it with a channel guide and an on-demand library. Content spans national and world news, sports results, courtroom programming, comedy, nature, documentaries, food and travel, horror, gaming, Spanish-language and international channels, plus full seasons of TV shows. The video catalogue is large, and the developer notes that some content keeps its original aspect ratio rather than being reformatted for every screen. The listing is free to install and carries advertising, with no in-app purchases.
Key features
- Personalized local feed drawing on stories from many US cities
- Live local and national news plus breaking headline coverage
- Weather forecasts and updates
- Channel guide listing daily programming
- On-demand library of thousands of movies across many genres
- Full seasons of TV shows, including comedy, reality, kids and classic titles
- Cast support for watching on a television screen
- Spanish-language and international channels alongside US content
How to install
- Tap the download button on this page to get the APK file.
- When Android asks for permission, allow your browser or file manager to install apps by enabling the Install unknown apps setting for that app.
- Open the downloaded APK file from your notifications or file manager.
- Tap Install and wait for the package to finish.
- Open the app; the file size is not listed, and the minimum Android version is 5.1.
Pros
- No subscription fee and no in-app purchases
- Combines local news, weather and entertainment in one app
- Broad channel and movie selection
- Works on older devices, down to Android 5.1
Cons
- Advertising is present throughout the experience
- Requests location, phone, photos and media, storage, and device ID permissions
- Some content is not reformatted and may appear in its original aspect ratio
- Rating sits below four stars across a modest number of reviews
Older versions
| Version | Size | Requires Android | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.9.3 | 79 MB | 5.0 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| 6.5.17 | — | 5.1 | Apr 6, 2026 |
This suits cord-cutters and casual viewers who want a free way to keep up with their own city's news and weather while also having something to watch in the evening. It is a reasonable fit for people who prefer a single app over juggling a weather service and a paid streaming subscription, and for households with older Android hardware. Viewers who are sensitive to advertising or who dislike broad permission requests should weigh those trade-offs first.
Grant location access only if you want the local feed tailored to your area; otherwise the app still works, but the personalization is less precise. Because the library is large, use the channel guide and genre categories to narrow choices rather than browsing blindly, and check whether a title is shown in its original aspect ratio before starting it on a small screen.
Permissions
FAQ
Does Local Now cost anything to use?
No. The app is free to download and use, with a price of 0.00 USD. It does show ads and does not offer in-app purchases.
Which Android version do I need?
The app requires Android 5.1 or later. The current version available here is 6.5.17, released on 2026-04-06.
How large is the download file?
No file size is listed for this app, so the download size is not stated here. You can check the size shown next to the download button before you start.
Do I need to create an account to watch?
The app is free to use, and no account requirement is mentioned in the available information. Just install it and start watching.
What permissions does the app request?
It asks for Location, Phone, Photos/Media/Files, Storage, and Device ID & call information. These are the permissions listed for the app.
How do I update to a newer version?
Download the new version from this page and install it over your current copy. The newest version listed here is 6.5.17, dated 2026-04-06.
Local Now bundles local news, weather and a sizeable free entertainment catalogue into one ad-supported app. It is a practical option for viewers who value breadth over a polished, ad-free experience.
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Updated: Oct 19, 2026