Bentonville Now Wins Emmy Award for Outstanding Magazine Program
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Bentonville Now, Downtown Bentonville Inc.'s (DBI) original television series, won a Mid-America Regional Emmy Award Saturday night at the 50th annual awards ceremony in Kansas City, Mo.
Now in its sixth season, the show—formerly known as DWTN Now—has earned Emmy nominations for three consecutive years. This year, Bentonville Now won in the Magazine Program category, competing alongside established productions and television stations from across the region, including Kansas City, Little Rock and St. Louis.
The award marks a milestone for a locally produced program with a straightforward mission: telling stories about the people, places and experiences that make Bentonville extraordinary.
Produced entirely in-house, Bentonville Now is created by a three-person team: DBI Executive Director Dana Schlagenhaft, Communications Director Aaron Nolan and Director of Media and Video Kyle Yazzie. Schlagenhaft said the team’s hands-on approach is part of what makes the show special.
“For six years, Downtown Bentonville Inc. has been rethinking what the art of storytelling can look like. Bentonville Now is a small team with a big idea: tell the stories of the people who make our community what it is, using the creativity and resources we have right here,” Schlagenhaft said. “We don’t outsource any part of the show. The three of us handle it all—from rolling through town with a camera on a cart and setting up our own lights to editing on laptops after hours.”
“At the 50th Mid-America Emmy Awards, we found ourselves surrounded by some of the region’s most established television stations and programs. We’re a lean, hands-on operation—and we brought home an Emmy. It felt a little like David and Goliath, and we’re incredibly proud of what our small team has built.”
What began in March 2020 as online content focused on downtown Bentonville has grown into a platform celebrating the people and ideas shaping the entire city. The evolution from DWTN Now to Bentonville Now reflects that broader mission: helping residents and visitors know their city better.
Today, the Emmy-winning show reaches audiences on television, online and through social media. Bentonville Now airs Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on ABC 40/29 and 11:30 a.m. on Arkansas CW. The program is also featured at Skylight Cinema in Bentonville.
Audiences can follow @BentonvilleNow on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for original stories, behind-the-scenes content and new episodes.
Downtown Bentonville Inc. thanks its community supporters, including the Walton Family Foundation, Visit Bentonville and the City of Bentonville.
ABOUT DOWNTOWN BENTONVILLE INC. A private, not-for-profit organization, Downtown Bentonville Inc. works to enhance the downtown Bentonville experience for everyone.