--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "WAND News" developer_entity: "WDRB" bundle_id: "com.wand.reader" app_store_id: "849930121" google_play_id: "com.wandtv.android" category: "News" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-01-20" report_date: "2026-04-18" report_version: "7.0" total_reviews: 936 overall_rating: 4.66 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.25 data_age_days: 55 momentum_velocity: "active" intelligence_version: 2 tags: ["news", "free", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "residents", "central", "illinois"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/wand-news" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" last_verified: "2026-05-07T20:15:05.325Z" --- # WAND News App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: News · Free - **Signal**: Rating 4.66 > **TL;DR:** WAND News is a news app by WDRB, rated 4.66/5 by 936 users, available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** WAND News is a news app by WDRB. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.66/5 (936 reviews) | | **Category** | News | | **Developer** | WDRB | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | Low (0.25/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 19d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** WDRB - **Category:** News - **Target Audience:** Residents of central Illinois seeking local news, weather, and sports updates. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 7.0 - **Audit Date:** 2026-04-18 - **Signal Count:** 5 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.25/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 849930121 - **Bundle ID:** com.wand.reader - **Google Play ID:** com.wandtv.android - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-04-18 - **Short Description:** Download the WAND News app to stay up to date on the news you need. ## Executive Snapshot WAND News is a regional news application providing coverage of news, weather, and sports for the central Illinois area. The app is designed to keep local users informed while on the go through mobile access to station content. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] News Coverage:** Provides local news reporting for the central Illinois region. * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. - **[Standard] Weather Updates:** Delivers meteorological information and forecasts to users. - **[Standard] Sports Coverage:** Offers local sports reporting and updates. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free ## App Momentum (Active) {#momentum} Last updated 88d ago. 5 versions tracked. > **Cadence:** 5 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 88 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} WAND News is an established news app that is completely free. With a 4.66/5 rating from 936 reviews, it shows polarized user reception. > **Bottom Line:** While the app provides essential local content, recent user feedback indicates significant stability issues, including frequent crashes and accessibility barriers. **Best for:** Residents of central Illinois seeking local news, weather, and sports updates. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.66/5 | | Total Reviews | 936 | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **WAND News** (this app) | 4.66/5 | N/A | WDRB | | [News4JAX+](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/news4jax) | 3.6/5 | N/A | Graham Media Group, Inc | | [The Press of Atlantic City](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/the-press-of-atlantic-city) | 4.3/5 | Mixed | BH Media Group | | [PIX11 New York's Very Own](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/pix11-new-york-s-very-own) | 3.8/5 | Mixed | Nexstar Broadcasting | | [KPRC 2 News](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/kprc-2-news) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Graham Media Group, Inc | | [News4Jax - WJXT Channel 4](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/news4jax-wjxt-channel-4) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Graham Media Group, Inc | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** WDRB - **Website:** [https://www.wandtv.com/](https://www.wandtv.com/) - **Social:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wandtv) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/wandtv) · [X/Twitter](https://twitter.com/wandtvnews) · [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4kejuOjkMeDpZWeRdBoa-Q) · [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@wand.news) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wand-news/id849930121?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wandtv.android&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.wandtv.com/) - **Sources:** App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*News4JAX+*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/news4jax) (Graham Media Group, Inc) — 3.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*The Press of Atlantic City*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/the-press-of-atlantic-city) (BH Media Group) — 4.3/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*PIX11 New York's Very Own*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/pix11-new-york-s-very-own) (Nexstar Broadcasting) — 3.8/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*KPRC 2 News*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/kprc-2-news) (Graham Media Group, Inc) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*News4Jax - WJXT Channel 4*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/news4jax-wjxt-channel-4) (Graham Media Group, Inc) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Shreveport-Bossier Advocate*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/shreveport-bossier-advocate) (Capital City Press, LLC) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Forbes*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-forbes-forbesreader-ios) (Forbes Media LLC) — 4.5/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*NBC 4 New York: News & Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-nbcuni-lim-ny) (NBCUniversal Media, LLC) — 4.3/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*WALB News 10*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-raycommedia-walbnewsapp1) (Gray Television Group, Inc.) — 4.4/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*WANE 15 - News and Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/wane-15-news-and-weather) (LIN Television Corporation) — 4.0/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.25/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 5 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 19 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/wand-news) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.