ORLANDO, Fla. — Raycom Media announced Thursday it has pioneered a television streaming channel devoted exclusively to on-demand investigative journalism and in-depth public interest content focused on everyday lives of viewers.

Titled “InvestigateTV,”  the channel uses OTT (over the top) app technology to distribute stories directly to viewers via the internet. It is accessible on the video streaming service Roku (search InvestigateTV)  and will soon be released to other digital streaming services.

Content will include investigations by Raycom’s television stations in partnership with ProPublica, the Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit news outlet that specializes in accountability journalism; Arizona State University’s “News21” project at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and Nerdwallet, a consumer finance website.

Pat LaPlatney, Raycom’s president and chief executive officer, announced the InvestigaveTV initiative at the annual Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) conference in Orlando during a panel presentation on the future of television.

“We know viewers are interested in meaningful investigations that dig deeper into issues they face in their everyday lives,” said LaPlatney.  “This gives us the ability to aggregate investigative materials, including stories that our local stations generate. Then it is bundled into one, easy, on-demand viewing experience.”

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is investing $188,000 in ProPublica to expand its video capability in order to collaborate with Raycom Media in producing original investigative reporting for the InvestigateTV OTT (over the top) channel.

“We are thrilled to expand ProPublica’s video journalism into new platforms through this exciting partnership,” said Stephen Engelberg, ProPublica editor-in-chief. “We look forward to reaching new audiences, bringing greater attention to our investigations, and heightening our ability to spur impact.”Top of Form

Len Downie, Weil Family Professor of Journalism at ASU’s Cronkite School and former Washington Post executive editor, said Raycom’s commitment to investigative journalism  “makes it an ideal partner” for the News21 project, which brings together top journalism students from around the country to report and produce in-depth, multimedia projects. The students work under the direction of Downie.

Lee Zurik, who heads Raycom’s national investigative team, said InvestigateTV  is intended as both a watchdog and a resource for the public through consumer-focused journalism.

“We hold public officials accountable,” said Zurik. “Stories from Raycom Media’s award-winning journalists and partners focus on government corruption, corporate greed, and health care.”

Raycom Media owns and manages 65 TV stations in 20 states. It is also the parent company of CNHI, LLC, which owns more than 100 newspapers in 22 states.