Haystack News

# Haystack News: A Streaming News Platform, Not a Technology Company

Haystack News is not a technology company in the traditional sense—it's a free, ad-supported streaming service that aggregates and personalizes news content. While it employs technology to deliver its service, its core business is distributing news, not building technology products for other companies.

High-Level Overview

Haystack News operates as an ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) streaming platform that curates personalized news playlists for viewers across smart TVs, mobile devices, and web browsers.[1] The service aggregates content from over 400 local, national, and global news channels, allowing users to customize their news experience based on location, topics of interest, and preferred publishers.[2] Rather than requiring cable subscriptions or paid memberships, Haystack generates revenue through advertising while offering an optional ad-free premium tier.[2]

The platform solves a specific problem: making local and national news accessible without traditional cable subscriptions. With more than 25 million users, Haystack has positioned itself as a leading free news streaming alternative, particularly for viewers seeking hyperlocal content from the 90% of major U.S. metro areas it covers.[2][3]

Origin Story

Haystack News was founded in 2013 by Daniel Barreto and Ish Harshawat, two software engineers who recognized a gap in the market.[1] Both struggled to access news content on television without cable subscriptions, which inspired them to build a solution. The company launched its first app in 2014 on iOS and Android with backing from Zorlu Ventures, the National Association of Broadcasters, and Stanford's StartX Fund.[1]

The service initially focused on national news but expanded significantly by May 2019, when it began utilizing clips from more than 200 local TV stations.[1] A pivotal rebrand occurred in May 2020, when Haystack TV became Haystack News, reflecting the platform's evolution into a comprehensive news destination.[1] That same year, the company added live streaming news channels, competing directly with similar services like NewsON and Local Now.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Personalization engine: Haystack uses user data—location, topic preferences, and favorite publishers—to create customized news playlists rather than serving generic feeds.[1]

• Hyperlocal content reach: The platform has negotiated direct content-sharing agreements with over 350 news organizations as of February 2021, covering 90% of major U.S. metro areas.[1][3]

• Interactive features: Haystack developed "Newsline," an interactive news ticker available on Roku and Android TV that integrates with Google Calendar and Google Maps, allowing users to engage with news through polls and set reminders for upcoming events.[5]

• Multi-platform availability: The service spans smart TVs, mobile apps (iOS/Android), and web browsers, making it accessible across the modern media consumption landscape.[3]

• Zero subscription barrier: As a free, ad-supported service, Haystack eliminates the friction of paywalls while maintaining a premium ad-free option for users willing to pay.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Haystack News exemplifies the shift toward cord-cutting and streaming fragmentation in media consumption.[3] As traditional cable subscriptions decline, free AVOD services have emerged as a critical distribution channel for news organizations seeking audiences. Haystack's success—including 145% year-over-year user growth reported in May 2020—reflects broader consumer demand for flexible, personalized news consumption without long-term commitments.[3]

The platform also demonstrates how data-driven personalization and AI can enhance news discovery in an era of information overload. By aggregating content from hundreds of publishers and tailoring it to individual preferences, Haystack addresses the challenge of relevance that plagues traditional broadcast news.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Haystack News faces intensifying competition from both established media companies launching their own streaming services and tech giants integrating news into broader platforms. Its differentiation hinges on maintaining strong relationships with local news stations—a labor-intensive but defensible moat—while continuing to innovate on user engagement features like Newsline.

The company's trajectory will likely depend on its ability to scale advertising revenue without compromising user experience, particularly as it competes for attention in an increasingly crowded streaming landscape. For local news organizations struggling with digital transformation, Haystack represents a viable distribution partner, making its role in the broader media ecosystem increasingly important as traditional newsrooms consolidate.