The City Wire, 104.9 the X partner on news

The City Wire has again added to its list of media partners through a collaboration with KXNA 104.9 the X in Northwest Arkansas.

Specifically, The City Wire now provides local, state and national news for Jon Williams’ morning show and his Loyal and Royal Army of listeners.

Williams has been a popular radio morning show personality in Northwest Arkansas since 1993, and will soon celebrate a one-year anniversary with 104.9 the X.

"I am excited about the joint venture between The City Wire and the Loyal and Royal Army on 104.9 the X. The City Wire has been a thorough and consistent watchdog of the events in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith for some time time now, and we are excited to have The City Wire news to supplement our morning show on 104.9 the X,” Williams said.

KXNA is owned by Fayetteville-based Butler Broadcasting, but Williams owns the morning show through a contract with Butler Broadcasting.

Michael Tilley, an owner and editor of The City Wire, said the goal with content partners is to find relationships with locally owned or Arkansas-centric media outlets that are connected to their communities and help diversify The City Wire’s audience.

“Not only is Jon the antithesis of out-of-touch corporate radio, but partnering with Jon broadens our demographic reach in Northwest Arkansas. We’re certainly proud to be a source of news for his Loyal and Royal Army,” Tilley said.

As part of the deal, The City Wire produces a short radio news update each day that Williams plays several times during his 6 to 10 a.m. morning show on 104.9 the X.

PARTNERSHIP HISTORY
Since its inception in November 2008, The City Wire has worked to provide its readers with diverse content through media partnerships.

The first partnership was with Roby Brock and his Little Rock-based Talk Business (www.talkbusiness.net). Through Talk Business, The City Wire works with Brock to stay ahead of most other news outlets on key statewide political and business news.

KFSM 5News reached out to The City Wire in 2009 and has since been a valuable partner for The City Wire. Earlier this year, that partnership resulted in The City Wire Show.

The show includes a recap of major events, updates and details on ongoing issues, updates on newsmakers and discussion of arts & entertainment action. The show airs Saturday mornings at 8 .m. on KXNW-TV 34, which is channel 20 for Cox cable customers in Northwest Arkansas and channel 8 for Cox cable customers in the Fort Smith area. The show will air Sunday mornings at 6 a.m. on KFSM-TV 5. The show will also air at 4 p.m., on June 17.

5NEWS Anchor Daren Bobb and Tilley are hosts for the show.

Also partnered with The City Wire is Kyle Kellams through his Ozarks at Large show on KUAF 91.3 AM. News from The City Wire is featured each Friday on Ozarks at Large.

Partnering with KUAF resulted from a desire by The City Wire to reach more of an audience in Northwest Arkansas, and a desire by Kellams to increase listeners in the Fort Smith metro area.