KHQ Inc., the Spokane-based NBC television affiliate, says it has partnered with the Watchup video news streaming mobile application so that viewers can watch its programs through the app.

Watchup is a free video news streaming app that enables users to customize what they follow based on preferences. In addition to its new arrangement with KHQ, the company has inked agreements with Meredith Corp., E.W. Scripps Co., Lilly Broadcasting, and Bonten Media Group.   

This partnership has made content from an additional 51 local media outlets available through the app, including Spokane’s KHQ, which announced its partnership with Watchup on April 13.  

The partnership will make the Watchup app available to a more local audience as Watchup users can now watch local news reports from 81 media outlets across the U.S.

 KHQ station manager Neal Boling says three of the company’s channels are available through Watchup—KHQ, SWX, and a channel that airs in the Tri-Cities and Yakima. 

“It’s not just for local news,” says Boling, adding that viewers can sync Watchup with their Facebook or Google Plus accounts and receive recommended news stories based on their profiles. 

Watchup touts itself on its website as the “Pandora for TV News” and it is available to download for Apple iOS and Android phones, Xbox 360 units, and Amazon Fire TV devices. 

Boling says that it’s too soon to tell how successful this app will be for KHQ, or to know how many local residents have downloaded it, but he believes it will make more news information available to a larger audience. 

“(This is) kind of the future of news,” says Boling. He says an app such as Watchup is attractive to a younger audience who might not watch TV news, and as the news stories featured in the app are based on one’s preferences, people will be consuming more news than before. 

“Our mission is to get the news out to as many people as we can,” says Boling, “and Watchup will help us with that.” 

Watchup was developed in 2012. Watchup’s national news sources include The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, among others.

KHQ is owned by Cowles Co., of Spokane, which also owns the Journal of Business.