For more than 15 years, Portland, Ore., has been home to a booming 97kw Class C FM offering all-news blocks in morning and afternoon drive alongside popular talk programming that includes Markley, Van Camp & Robbins; The Lars Larson Show; and The Chad Benson Show. FM News 101 KXL has enjoyed stellar ratings performances with that programming mix, continuing the trend following Connoisseur Media‘s debt assumption-fueled acquisition of Alpha Media.
Effective immediately, that news muscle will now get a vitamin boost from the Nexstar Media Group-owned CBS affiliate serving the Rose City.
A news partnership has been forged between KXL-FM and KOIN-6, the station led by RBR+TVBR Top Local TV Leader Tom Keeler, who serves as VP/General Manager. It brings together “two established Portland news organizations to expand coverage of local news, weather and information across radio, television and digital platforms.”
Keeler commented, “KOIN-6 has been a trusted source of local news and sports in the Portland area for more than 75 years. That includes having Portland’s most accurate weather forecasts for an unprecedented 11 years in a row, as rated by a national organization. KOIN-6 is honored to align ourselves with an equally respected news provider on the radio spectrum, KXL. Together, KOIN-6 News and KXL will lead the market in delivering relevant news, information and weather forecasts to help you keep your family safe while better serving the community.”
The partnership, Connoisseur Media said, creates “additional opportunities for both newsrooms to share information and deliver timely coverage to audiences throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.” Additionally, Nexstar’s KOIN-TV and KXL believe the partnership “reflects the changing ways audiences consume local news and the importance of making trusted reporting available across multiple platforms throughout the day.”
It was not disclosed if Connoisseur will be parting ways with any news department staff as a result of the new agreement.
As a BIA Local Media & Tech Daily reader, you get special access to RBR+TVBR Premium Content and a special VIP Membership offer, opening up RadioTVBiz.com and providing you with our quarterly Radio + Television Business Report magazine.
Take advantage of this special offer by clicking here.
Connoisseur/Portland VP/Market Manager Mark Handwerger commented, “This partnership brings together two of Oregon and Washington’s most trusted newsrooms to deliver coverage across radio, television and digital platforms. By combining FM News 101 KXL with KOIN-TV, we are expanding our reach to keep our community informed, connected and ahead of the story—whenever and wherever they consume news.”
For KXL Program Director Grant McHill, “Partnering with KOIN 6 News allows us to expand our commitment to delivering fast, accurate and essential news to the Pacific Northwest. By combining KXL’s deep roots in local news radio with KOIN-6 6’s trusted reporting, we are building a stronger, more dynamic news ecosystem for Portland and beyond.”
