KSTP (ABC) in Minneapolis-St. Paul is launching a network of 80 – 90 hyperlocal sites in the region. KSTP, owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, is going to use the DataSphere technology – the same platform that powers the KOMO hyperlocals in Seattle. Paul Gaulke, creative services director of KSTP, tells MinnPost:
“A lot of the news that comes in to a newsroom, like press releases, never gets on the air,” he says. “The true beauty is finding groups of people interested in the area, and small advertisers who are interested in following.”
MinnPost also reports Hubbard will launch hyperlocal networks in Duluth and Rochester. DataSphere has been on a big roll lately, having raised about $11 million in capital earlier this year. Earlier this month, Datasphere announced it will roll out hyperlocal networks for Raycom, as well.
(Disclosures: I consulted for Hubbard and Paul Gaulke on separate occasions.)