Gannett’s Austin American-Statesman will launch a second streaming brand with the debut on Monday, April 13 of “Statesman News Network“.
The station will be anchored by former 590/99.7 KLBJ host Jeff Ward. Ward exited afternoons at KLBJ last October after 21 years at the station. Ward will host 9am-12pm on Statesman News Network.
Other shows that will be available on the station and as podcasts will include programs hosted by the newspapers and reporters and multiple programs about Texas Longhorns football and lifestyle programs.
The station joins last year’s debut of Funk/Soul “Austin 360 Radio“.
The Austin American-Statesman is launching a new streaming station, the Statesman News Network, and bringing a familiar voice back to the city’s radio landscape. The new station will be available 24 hours a day at statesmannewsnetwork.com beginning April 13 and will focus on news and entertainment.
It joins sister station Austin360 Radio, which went live a year ago and streams a new spin on 1970s funk, soul and more at austin360radio.com.
“News consumption is at an all-time high, especially during these uncertain times. We are so proud to deliver some of the best programming available in the Austin market, conveniently streamed to a computer, mobile phone, smart speakers and more,” says Rob Connelly, Director of Digital Audio for Gannett.
Listeners also will hear longtime Austin radio host Jeff Ward on the Statesman News Network. Ward, who was a host on KLBJ 590 AM/99.7 FM for 20 years, is making the leap from over-the-air to streaming with his new “The Jeff Ward Show,” airing live from 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday, also beginning April 13. The Jeff Ward Show will be sponsored by Supreme Lending.
“There will be plenty of common sense rants,” Ward said in an announcement about his show and the new station. “But the goal of the show is always the same: I want you to find it compelling, and I want to you to feel forced to think.”
Expect a focus on Austin and a wide range of opinions.
“I don’t cheer for political parties. In fact, I spend a great deal of time ripping them,” says Ward. “I’m an Austin guy who likes to talk about Austin stuff.” In addition to his live streaming show, Ward will also create podcasts covering business and football.
Other programming planned for the new station include:
• “Austin Headline News Express,” a daily local news update
• “From the Newsroom,” news and interviews from the staff of the American-Statesman
• “512 Tech and Business Report,” a daily update on local business and technology news from Amy Edwards
• “Talking Tech” from USA Today, daily consumer tech news update and gadget reviews
• “On Second Thought,” Texas Longhorns and other sports talk from Statesman sports columnists Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden”=
• “Longhorn Confidential,” breaking news, interviews and updates on the Texas Longhorns
• “Longhorns Unfiltered,” Texas Longhorns updates from Statesman reporters
• “All-Centex All-Star Prep Podcast with Craig Way,” Central Texas high school sports news from the voice of the Texas Longhorns
• “Austin Found,” where Statesman reporter and Austin history buff Michael Barnes and radio personality JB Hager share the stories behind the making of the Texas capital
• “Rock Your Life with Amy Edwards,” where listeners learn to take their lives to the next level with practical tips, affirmations and interviewsMore podcasts and programming are also planned for the future.
Complete information is available at statesman.com/newsnetwork.
