Programming Changes at NPR Utah, KCPW

Apr 24, 2008 by Lara Jones

Changes Take Effect Thursday, May 1, 2008

As Wasatch Public Media continues negotiations to acquire the FM frequencies of NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 and 105.3 FM, from Community Wireless of Park City, certain programming changes will occur to maximize resources. Effective May 1, 2008:

Bryant Park Project
The BPP will only air from 5-6 a.m. weekdays.

Morning Edition
This long-time NPR favorite runs three full hours, 6-9 a.m., weekdays. For program details, click here.

Midday Utah
This program will no longer be carried by KCPW. For more details, visit our sister station's website.

On Point
On Point, a weekday news-analysis program hosted by Tom Ashbrook, moves to 9-11 a.m. weekdays. Previously broadcast on KCPW from 11 a.m. - Noon, both hours of the program will now air Monday through Friday mornings in their entirety, repeating weeknights, Monday through Thursday, from 8-10 p.m.. Program details at onpointradio.org.

Midday Metro
Midday Metro, a one-hour local interview program focused on news and information relevant to life in the Salt Lake Valley, shifts to 11 a.m. weekdays. Program details, including podcasts, at kcpw.org/midday-metro.

1. Ben said:

I think it will be great to carry "OnPoint" live! Not to mention, this compliments KUER's ofering of "Talk of the Nation" at noon - which is also a live call in program dealing with issues of the day. People can either stay tuned for local issues at 11 or move over to KUER for more national news.

Now if "As It Happens" were added back to KCPW I'd be ecstatic.

2. Ron said:

How about dumping that stupid Bryant Park Project from 5-7 and going back to Morning Edition.

3. Jason said:

Second a request for "As It Happens"

And I love the Bryant Park Project, but it's not as good without Alison Stewart!

4. Jim said:

I'm really not happy that you didn't even give the Bryant Park Project a year. I guess it's time to get satellite radio.

5. Ben said:

They already dumped Bryant Park? That's sad. I guess they couldn't even take the chance of courting a younger audience... I know Luke Burbank is catching fire in nights and viral marketing here in Seattle.

However, the dominant public radio player here airs BPP on their second-rate signal from 5 am to 7 am. Not exactly a big ratings winner ... and leads into Diane Rehm.

6. Nancy said:

I'm delighted you didn't give Bryant Park a year. I have a young friend who doesn't like it either - says he can't tell if they are really reporting news because they sound like "bubble gum" radio.

7. Fredo said:

Getting rid of Blair is good.

Getting rid of BPP is cowardly.

8. Lara Jones said:

Ed's note: If you'll read the announcement closely, you'll see that BPP is still on the schedule -- albeit for one hour from 5-6 a.m. weekdays.

9. DeAnn Rasmussen said:

BPP was the best way to start my day ... all TWO hours of it ... We can listen to every other type of program you offer at all hours during the day ... there was finally a program that was a bit off-beat, unusual, entertaining, and newsy. It was a great way to easy into the day ... losing that second hour is a big mistake ... please reconsider ...

10. Alice Lara said:

I'm so glad you cut BPP to 1 hour. It would be fine if it wasn't first thing in the morning. I HATE waking up to all that craziness & the BBC programming on AM doesn't really come through that well. I wish you would go back to BBC & then Morning Edition.

11. Nancy said:

I missed BPP this morning! I wondered where it was this morning? It's a great way to start the morning.

12. Jason said:

I loved waking up to the BPP--it gave a jump to the day. I like Morning edition but do I really need to hear it repeated for 3 hours?

13. Favorite said:

I also love BPP it's probably the best way to start my morning

14. Gerrit said:

Do we really need THREE hours of Morning Edition? We could certainly let Bryant Park Project go for two hours, and still have two, non-repeating hours of Morning Edition.

Also, are there any plans to bring back Midday Utah? We still have Midday Metro, but I would appreciate a 2nd hour of local programming.

15. Lisa said:

Don't we want KCPW to be different than KUER? BPP brought some fresh air and fresh listeners.

16. bruce beck said:

What ever happened to Blair Feulner and how long in the planing was the scheme to sell off KCPW?

17. Erin said:

I love BPP and would like to see the second hour brought back.

18. Dave said:

I respect others' comments about BPP, however, I found it to be amateurish and annoying. The focus seems to be on the egos and personas of the hosts rather than the stories. My drive time listening has been improved since the BPP time slot was reduced.

19. Jim Roberts said:

Cutting Bryant Park Project to an hour is a good first step. To complete the operation---ridding KCPW completely of the BPP---will not displease me.

BPP was the last straw with me, and led me to discover how easy it is to stream many, many NPR programs from throughout the country using Itunes (I suppose other media players are just as easy to use.)

I started recently to stream New York's WNYC's program "The Take-away," which I find much better than the BPP.

I was so tired of tuning into the BPP to find them interviewing some drummer with some garage band who nobody is interested in (except for those tone-deaf 13-year olds who are those that the BPP is courting)that I started to scream! If NPR can't "capture" the younger, hipper audience, then maybe there's a message in it for our younger, hipper audience: they need to grow up, read a few good newspapers, and learn to be patient until the day that they will be old enough to appreciate more "adult" news and information!

Jim

20. Ben said:

Mr. Roberts- so far I agree with you about the "Take-Away," and I was a big B.P.P. supporter because I think new and innovative things need to be given a chance... I'd be excited if KCPW looked into changing to that program instead. It's still fast-paced and informative, and I appreciate someone other than "NPR" (It's produced by WNYC and another syndicator) making some innovative content.

One could say the same thing about "Fair Game" from PRI, though. People on this site have attacked it as well.

21. Christopher Wilde said:

Thank you for providing great innovative programing, as a former Radio Broadcaster I can't say enough about the high quality of KCPW's offerings. I strongly encourage everyone to help with the current fund raising efforts to this important part of our community alive and strong.Christopher WildeSocial Commentatorwww.futureosophy.com

22. Mark Dean said:

Jim Roberts--thanks for confirming that ignorance of youth culture and ageism are still a strong component of our elderly society. I commend KCPW management for at least trying to target new listeners.

KCPW--I love you, but do miss the BPP.

23. Patti said:

I am 58 years old and LOVE BBP! It's fresh, stimulating AND informative and it makes me smile. I look forward to waking up because of it. I want that 2nd hour back because I don't wake up until 5:30.

Go KCPW!

24. Jim Roberts said:

In response to my comments, Mark Dean wrote:

"Jim Roberts--thanks for confirming that ignorance of youth culture and ageism are still a strong component of our elderly society."

My comments were not a result of ageism, but more a diatribe against "ignorantism."

Note the following, form the New York Times:

Clueless in AmericaNew York TimesBy BOB HERBERTPublished: April 22, 2008

"A recent survey of teennagers by the education advocacy group Common Core found that a quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler, a third did not know that the Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, and fewer than half knew that the Civil War took place between 1850 and 1900."

"In the Common Core survey, nearly 20 percent of respondents did not know who the U.S. fought in World War II. Eleven percent thought that Dwight Eisenhower was the president forced from office by the Watergate scandal. Another 11 percent though t it was Harry Truman."

Ignorance is ignorance, whatever age group!