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‘#BeLocalish: Deals & Steals’ Special Returns With a Spotlight on Women-Owned Businesses Beginning Friday March 26 – Sunday, March 28

‘#BeLocalish: Deals & Steals’ Special Will Air Across ABC Owned Television Stations and Stream Live on Its 32 Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

Viewers Can Shop Exclusive Deals From Featured Businesses at ShopLocalish.com

In support of Women’s History Month, ABC Owned Television Stations will feature women-owned businesses across the country in a half-hour special “#BeLocalish: Deals & Steals: Supporting Women-Owned Businesses.” The WABC-produced special will air across the eight owned stations beginning FRIDAY, MARCH 26 – SUNDAY, MARCH 28, and available to stream on each station’s connected TV app.Co-hosted by Tory Johnson of “GMA Deals & Steals” alongside WABC Eyewitness News’ Sam Champion, this is the fourth special in a series that follows the top-rated program’s premiere in May 2020, where the initial focus was on businesses in the tri-state region impacted by the pandemic. 

The upcoming special will feature incredible deals from 20 women-owned businesses located across the country. ABC’s Localish is also highlighting some of the women-owned businesses featured in the special such as Philadelphia-based Printfresh, a sustainable pajama company and  Kinsley Armelle, a custom jewelry brand based in Houston, Texas. The “Deals & Steals” special will air on the eight-owned stations’ linear broadcast and on Localish’s linear network, spanning across nearly 1,600 communities. The stations include WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, KFSN-TV Fresno and Localish network. 

“Our partnership with Tory around “#BeLocalish: Deals & Steals” gives our viewers an opportunity to support the small businesses they love – and get some great deals in the process. Viewers will be inspired by the resilience, ambition and ingenuity of the women they’ll meet in our 30-minute special and can purchase their products instantly via a QR code or on ShopLocalish.com,” said Anna Robertson, VP of Content and Partner Innovation for ABC owned television stations.

With the COVID-19 crisis having a disproportionate toll on women, “#BeLocalish: Deals & Steals” reflects the station group’s ongoing commitment to support small businesses and protect jobs impacted by this unprecedented global health and economic crisis. The decision to feature women-owned businesses across the stations’ linear platforms gives these companies national brand exposure with the potential viewership of 17 million and an additional 17 million viewers when it airs on the Localish network in the eight markets. 

The special will highlight popular product categories including beauty products, pajamas and paraffin booties, hair care, food, accessories, kitchen and home, and a “Shark Tank” winner’s business. Viewers will be able to shop featured products at an exclusive, limited-time discounted rate of at least 50% off, made available for 24 hours after the airing of the special at ShopLocalish.com. 

Some of the featured businesses on “#BeLocalish: Deals & Steals: Supporting Women-Owned Businesses” are the following: 

• Live Tinted, a makeup product line for every skin tone that started with a viral video of its founder using red lipstick to hide dark circles under her eyes
• SHEEX, New Jersey-based former basketball coaches who decided to turn the comfort of athletic performance material into bedding 
• NaturAll Club, a hair product developed by a Philadelphia woman who, frustrated with commercial hair products that left her hair damaged, created an all-natural hair care product from fruits and vegetables 
• Safe Grabs, a “Shark Tank” winner with a Houston-based business that makes silicone mats to protect hands from being burned by hot kitchenware
• SHOLDIT, the invention of a woman who bought a $20 sewing machine to make a scarf with a zippered pocket, so she could carry her things without having to carry a purse
• Vicky Cakes, a tasty pancake and waffle mix passed down through generations, from a woman who wants families to come together and bond over breakfast

*Viewers can view the linear broadcast in each market’s respective owned station and shop the full list of featured products online, ShopLocalish.com. The special will also air on the Localish network (check local listings for airdate information). 

STATION	DAY	DATE	TIME
ABC13/KTRK-TV	Friday	3/26	3:30 p.m. CDT
ABC7/WLS-TV	Friday	3/26	6:30 p.m. CDT
ABC7/WABC-TV	Friday	3/26	7:30 p.m. EDT
ABC7/KGO-TV	Saturday	3/27	4:00 p.m. PDT
ABC7/KABC-TV	Saturday	3/27	6:30 p.m. PDT
ABC11/WTVD-TV	Saturday	3/27	7:00 p.m. PDT
6ABC/ WPVI-TV	Saturday	3/27	7:30 p.m. PDT
ABC30/KFSN-TV	Saturday	3/27	7:30 p.m. PDT

About WABC
WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.

About ABC Owned Television Stations
Disney Media Entertainment & Distribution’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 14 million viewers across America through its digital-first national lifestyle brand and broadcast channel, Localish. Most recently, the stations received five Broadcast & Cable awards, including in the 2020 Best in Local TV Awards category as Station Group of the Year for its innovative and next-generation news reporting, and in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.

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ABC’s Localish Announces ‘OUTstanding’ Limited Series Executive Produced and Hosted By ‘Modern Family’ Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson

‘OUTstanding’ Will Stream on Localish.com, ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 Connected TV Apps Across Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku, and Its Social Media Platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Localish introduces a limited digital series “OUTstanding” executive produced and hosted by award-winning “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Localish.com TODAY, Tuesday, Dec. 8. The limited series consists of five episodes focusing on LGBTQ individuals throughout the country making major contributions to their communities. Grounded in its mission to bring out the good in cities across America, each episode will highlight resilient and inspiring LGBTQ individuals ranging from a gay couple adopting a teenager during the COVID-19 pandemic and a bisexual country singer/songwriter to a business owner/winemaker and local activists who are unapologetically “OUTstanding.”

“These people have been inspirations in their own communities for years and I can’t wait for more people to get to know them. Their remarkable lives and uplifting stories are just the thing we need right now!” 

“Jesse has been such a tireless advocate for LGBTQ issues over the years and brought so much personal energy to this project,” said Michael Koenigs, executive producer of the Localish Network. “By featuring extraordinary LGBTQ families in all different corners of this country, we’re excited to inspire audiences with real examples of leaders trailblazing more inclusive paths in their communities.”

With producers based in major cities across the U.S., Localish worked with Ferguson to identify and remotely film LGBTQ individuals who faced major challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.

“The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach to production, but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for telling amazing stories that make us proud of our neighbors,” added Koenigs.

In addition to streaming on Localish’s digital-owned platform Localish.com, the series will post one episode a week on Localish’s social platforms with cross promotion on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s social media platforms @jessetyler on both Instagram and Twitter, and on ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV apps across Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.

Episodes include the following:

• Episode 1 – Record-Breaking Zoom Adoption:
  The Beanblossoms fostered their now-son Michael for a year before adopting him, during the pandemic, in what became the biggest Zoom adoption ever. During this time, the  Beanblossoms lost their home in a fire and now look to the future to build a new house that meets the needs of their growing family.
• Episode 2 – Queer Country Star:  
  Sarah Shook grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family rural in North Carolina where she was only allowed to listen to classical and worship music. Shook identifies as bisexual and is politically active in supporting LGBT and civil rights causes. Sarah Shook formed a country band, the Disarmers, with an outspoken message for all.  
• Episode 3 – Formerly Homeless Activist: 
  Young, Black, gay and homeless, TyRon Jackson used to think he didn’t matter. Now his work speaks for itself.  His nonprofit Operation Warm Wishes (OWW) has been giving back to those in need for 13 years. Unbeknownst to him, his community has come together to surprise him with a life-changing gift. 
• Episode 4 – Trailblazing Winemaker: 
  Winemaker Krista Scruggs has a history of defying expectations. She’s a young, queer Black woman who has chosen to make wine in Vermont that is uniquely made from biodynamically farmed grapes, sometimes co-fermented with foraged apples to create a singular hybrid style. After founding her own label, Zafa Wines, one of her first bottlings, a provocatively named sparkler called Jungle Fever, sold out quickly in its 2017 debut. She was quickly recognized in the industry as a wine wunderkind. 
• Episode 5 – Meet the Chicken Lady:  
  Ken Thomason was born in rural Indiana where there was a church on every street corner. Feeling displaced in a small city, Ken moved to California where he met his first best friend who later sadly passed away of AIDS. Before his death, Ken’s best friend gifted him a chicken plush toy. In his honor Ken rode in a week-long fundraiser bike ride, the AIDS LifeCycle, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Thus Ken’s alter ego The Chicken Lady was hatched. 

Joining the team behind “OUTstanding” includes Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita, Amy Rice, Craig Gartner, and Michael Koenigs as executive producers, Chris Casey as production manager, Georgia Krause as producer, and Elie Sokoloff as editorial producer. 

Follow Localish (#Localish) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View additional Localish series at abc.com/shows/localish.

About Localish 
Localish is a multiplatform lifestyle brand from the ABC Owned Television Stations aimed at bringing out the good in cities across America through positive, feel-good storytelling. A digital native brand launched in September 2018, Localish expanded on Feb. 17, 2020, and debuted its broadcast home in eight top markets across the country. Localish has produced over 3,000 pieces of digital video, totaling more than 400 million video views, with 60% of its audience under the age of 44. Most recently honored with the 2019 Innovator Award – the highest distinction among TVNewsCheck’s annual Social Media Excellence Awards – Localish was credited for its forward-minded ideas, sleek execution and all-around positive impact. As a broadcast network, Localish expanded its short-form series of local storytelling into long-form programming to reach approximately 14 million households across America. The brand also continues to debut stories on localish.com, ABC digital platforms and social media platforms, as it transcends city limits and inspires its audience to live like a local wherever they are. 

Twitter:	https://twitter.com/localish
Instagram:	https://www.instagram.com/localish/
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/localish/

About ABC Owned Television Stations 
Walt Disney Television’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 14 million viewers across America through its digital-first national lifestyle brand and broadcast channel, Localish. Most recently, the stations received four Broadcast & Cable awards in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.

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ABC Owned Television Stations Launch #belocalish Campaign to Support Local Businesses Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABC Owned Television Stations (OTV) launched a call-to-action campaign, #BeLocalish, to help support local businesses struggling to survive the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC’s owned stations have taken an active role to help by telling the stories of the small businesses on the frontlines, showcasing the resilience, ingenuity and compassion of our communities and offering practical ways that local businesses can continue to thrive.

“We are facing unprecedented times and now more than ever, our role as a news organization is expanding beyond delivering critical information to also serve as a resource to the communities in which we live and work,” said Jennifer Mitchell, senior vice president of content development for ABC Owned Television Stations. “Building off of Localish’s focus to bring out the good in cities    across America, the #BeLocalish campaign is a way for the entire station group to make a positive impact and rally support around struggling businesses at the heart of their communities.”

The #BeLocalish campaign will take a multiplatform approach to reach and engage the community, kicking off with a call-to-action PSA, launching immersive webpages across all eight stations, and building a community-driven social media activation movement. 

The #BeLocalish webpage spotlights community businesses, lists helpful business resources and provides practical suggestions to viewers on how they can support struggling businesses. Featured #Belocalish stories will air on the stations’ linear broadcast and as a half-hour weekly special on Localish’s linear network. Stories will also be featured on Localish.com, and each of the stations’ digital properties, as well as social media channels to reach ABC’s owned stations’ 21 million social followers.

As viewers support their local businesses by ordering takeout, purchasing goods from businesses providing “contact-less” pickup/delivery, shopping online through local companies’ websites, or contributing to business GoFundMe pages, they are also encouraged to participate in the social media activation by sharing their stories on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tagging #BeLocalish. 

The owned stations are already hearing inspiring stories of how local businesses and communities are coming together:

• KTRK-TV Houston The 70-year-old Houston business Three Brothers Bakery survived four floods, a fire and Hurricane Harvey. Finding its business once more in turmoil, the owners remained positive and offered advice to small businesses struggling during the pandemic and encouraged the community to place online orders to support local businesses. After Localish featured their story, the bakery experienced a dramatic surge of online orders which crashed the bakery’s website but successfully increased their sales. In a follow-up interview, the owners shared that Localish was saving their business “one pie at a time.”
• WABC-TV New York is airing a local special called “Retail Rescue” hosted by “Deals and Steals”’s Tory Johnson and Eyewitness News’ Sam Champion. “Retail Rescue” will feature interviews of local boutique owners in the tri-state area impacted by the pandemic, share a curated list of products and offer exclusive discounts to encourage business and boost sales.  The “Retail Rescue” special will air on WABC-TV New York on May 9, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. (Learn more at shopretailrescue.com) 
• KABC-TV Los Angelesfeatured Amazebowls, in their SOCAL Strong segment who showed they were #BeLocalish by creating “Smorgasburg” delivery boxes that featured food and beverages from their fellow vendors, to sell on their food truck when the stay home orders caused the temporary closure of the Smorgasburg food market where the company and other businesses normally sold its goods. 

Additionally, beginning May 11, 2020, KABC-TV Los Angeles will include a #BeLocalish segmentin its daily newscasts to highlight local businesses. Viewers can visit ABC7.com/BeLocalish to learn more about the featured businesses and, in certain instances, receive special offers, as well as submit #BeLocalish stories of their own. 

Follow Localish (#Localish, #BeLocalish) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View Localish series at abc.com/shows/localish.

About ABC Owned Television Stations
The ABC Owned Television Stations includes WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The eight owned stations reach 23% of all U.S. television households. The stations are consistently market leaders in multiplatform local news, collectively No. 1 in local news among Adults 25-54 for 11 consecutive broadcast seasons, and in overall digital audience, video consumption and social reach and engagement. In 2018, the Stations further expanded their content portfolio and reach with the launch of the digital-first national lifestyle brand Localish that in its first year produced over 650 pieces of digital video content, totaling more than 240 million video views.  The Live Well broadcast channel was rebranded as Localish in February 2020, delivering locally sourced yet nationally relevant storytelling as long-form linear programming to more than 14 million viewers across America. 

About Localish
Localish, a digital native lifestyle brand from ABC Owned Television Stations featuring locally sourced yet nationally relevant stories which target a younger audience, debuted its broadcast home on Feb. 17, 2020. In Localish’s first year, ABC’s owned stations produced over 700 pieces of digital video, totaling more than 240 million video views, with 65% of its audience under the age of 44. Most recently honored with the 2019 Innovator Award – the highest distinction among TVNewsCheck’s annual Social Media Excellence Awards – Localish was credited for its forward-minded ideas, sleek execution and all-around positive impact. As a broadcast network, Localish expanded its short-form series of local storytelling into long-form programming to reach approximately 14 million households across America. The brand also continues to debut stories on localish.com, ABC digital platforms and social media platforms, as it transcends city limits and inspires its audience to live like a local wherever they are.