As an increasing number of television viewers are accessing content via tablets and smartphones, apps from the likes of HBO, ESPN and Netflix are growing in popularity. Local TV stations may soon be taking a similar approach to pursuing online and mobile viewers. For example, NBC affiliate KHQ in Spokane, Washington launched its “Watch KHQ” app earlier this month. While content is currently limited, the app suggests a new direction by local broadcasters.

“Because the station doesn’t yet have the Web rights to stream NBC’s prime-time lineup or game shows like ‘Jeopardy,’ the app can’t show much of what KHQ airs,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “But for TV stations such as KHQ, the app is an example of technology experimentation that is becoming a high priority for local broadcasters nationwide.”

“Stations are trying to keep up with a rapidly changing television marketplace, where consumers are increasingly watching video online and via mobile devices. Broadcasters want to get the content that appears on their stations onto mobile devices before others do,” notes the article.

Aereo — which streams local TV stations over the Web without permission from broadcasters — represents an additional disruption to the evolving TV landscape. As we’ve recently been reporting, broadcasters including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBCUniversal have sued the startup, claiming copyright infringement. Already available in New York City, Aereo plans to expand to 22 more markets this year.

“Aereo represents a dual threat for local stations,” suggests WSJ. “If it continues, it could hurt the stations’ ability to collect fees for carriage of their signal from pay-TV providers, a growing source of revenue. And it also could prompt big networks to convert to pay channels, an option suggested by Fox parent News Corp. earlier this month as a potential response to what it calls Aereo’s piracy. Such a change would mean network-TV shows like ‘New Girl’ and ‘Glee’ would be taken off over-the-air broadcasts, depriving local stations of some of their most valuable programming.”

Aereo joins the rising success of cable and satellite television as a technological threat to traditional over-the-air broadcasting (researcher SNL Kagan notes that only 13.8 percent of TV households in the U.S. rely exclusively on over-the-air TV).

Dyle mobile TV, now available in 39 markets, is one option for delivering content to mobile devices. Dyle enables viewers to access live TV by adding an antenna to tablets and smartphones. “Long term, backers of the technology hope TV tuners will be built into a range of popular mobile devices,” notes the article.

“Another approach is Web-streaming, as Spokane’s KHQ has been trying. The station joined with technology company Syncbak Inc. to power its mobile app, testing it for about a year under the Syncbak brand before launching the official station-branded version, ‘Watch KHQ,’ this month. That app and another launched for a channel focused on sports and weather have had more than 100,000 downloads over the full year,” reports WSJ.

“If Aereo comes to our market, I think we’re one step ahead of the game,” said KHQ’s GM Patricia McRae. “Viewers are going to come to the local brand — they’re going to come to us.”