kuar: : FM 89 Considers Midday Program Change (2009-01-06)

INSIDE KUAR

FM 89 Considers Midday Program Change

NPR has cancelled Day to Day due to budget cuts. FM 89 is looking at several options for replacing the popular show, which goes off the air in March. On Dec. 10, National Public Radio announced several budget cuts as a means to deal with a projected $23 million budget deficit for the current fiscal year. Cuts included a 7% reduction in NPR's current workforce, including the cancellation of Day to Day, which is heard each weekday at noon on FM 89.

"We're obviously disappointed to hear about the cuts at NPR and very saddened by the loss of Day to Day," says UALR Public Radio General Manager Ben Fry. KUAR began airing the daily magazine show in Fall 2003, soon after it first came on air. "It has been one of our most popular midday programs, with audience numbers that have sometimes surpassed All Things Considered."

Fry and KUAR Program Director Ron Breeding are looking at several options for replacing the show, which will go off the air on March 20.

Three national programs are available for broadcast at that time.

Here & Now from Public Radio International is a daily newsmagazine hosted by former TV correspondent Robin Young.

http://www.pri.org/here-now.html

The Story from American Public Media is a daily interview show hosted by veteran radio journalist Dick Gordon.

http://www.thestory.org/

Tell Me More is an interview show from NPR News hosted by former ABC Nightline correspondent Michel Martin.

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=46

"We're also looking at the possibility of producing our own local talk show," says Breeding. "We've been talking about doing this for a long time as a way to give more breadth to our local news coverage. We have some technical issues to overcome, but this might be the opportunity we're looking for."

FM 89 invites your comments about programming decisions. Send us an e-mail at programming@kuar.org with your opinion about these or other options available.