Why WFMZ 69News Is Suddenly Trending: Inside the Breakthrough Story Gripping Pennsylvania

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — WFMZ-TV, the Lehigh Valley’s independent broadcast leader, is pushing deeper into the cord-cutting era with the rapid expansion of its free streaming service, WFMZ+. Viewers can now watch 69 News live, on-demand newscasts, and the 69 News Weather Channel on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, mobile devices, and—new this month—many Samsung Smart TVs. What WFMZ+ delivers • 24/7 livestreams of WFMZ-TV’s primary channel, including local breaking news, regional sports highlights, and syndicated favorites. • Instant access to every televised newscast, allowing viewers to replay specific segments on demand. • Integrated hyper-local weather coverage with Doppler radar, hourly forecasts, and severe-weather push alerts. • Family-friendly content ranging from community events to the station’s award-winning “History’s Headlines” series. Why the upgrade matters Streaming usage in U.S. households now exceeds 38 percent of total TV time, according to Nielsen’s monthly Gauge report. By launching on Samsung’s built-in Tizen OS—a platform that commands roughly one-third of the smart-TV market—WFMZ strengthens its reach to viewers who have abandoned traditional cable packages but still want immediate, trustworthy local coverage. The move also positions the station ahead of next year’s political cycle, when real-time election results and debates are expected to drive record digital traffic. How to install WFMZ+ 1. On Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV, open the device’s channel/app store, search “WFMZ+,” and click “Add Channel.” 2. On Samsung Smart TVs (models 2020 and newer), press the Home button, navigate to “Apps,” enter “WFMZ+,” then download and launch. 3. On Android or iOS phones and tablets, visit Google Play or the App Store and install the WFMZ+ app. 4. For desktop viewing, head to WFMZ.com and select “Watch Live.” Because the app is ad-supported, there is no subscription fee or log-in required, though creating a free account unlocks personalized weather alerts and the ability to save favorite stories for later viewing. Community impact WFMZ+ gives Eastern Pennsylvania and Western New Jersey residents a reliable lifeline during winter storm season. Meteorologists can cut into the stream at any hour, while push notifications deliver real-time school-closing updates. Local businesses also benefit: the platform includes a dedicated “Eat, Sip, Shop” section that showcases Lehigh Valley restaurants and retailers to digital-first consumers. Upcoming features Station engineers are beta-testing a picture-in-picture mode that will allow viewers to keep an eye on Doppler radar while continuing to watch live newscasts. Support for Vizio SmartCast TVs and LG webOS sets is slated for early 2026, further widening WFMZ’s footprint across the Mid-Atlantic. Bottom line The launch of WFMZ+ on Samsung Smart TVs—and its ever-growing device lineup—signals a strategic pivot that meets audiences where they are: streaming, mobile, and always on. For residents from Allentown to Reading, the message is clear: cutting the cord no longer means cutting off local news.