Issue date: March 18, 2004

WKAR Radio launches several program changes

WKAR radio, 90.5 WKAR and AM 870 WKAR, launched several program changes that began March 1.

90.5 WKAR expanded its schedule of news and entertainment programs from National Public Radio (NPR) including the addition of “Weekend Edition” (Saturdays and Sundays at 8 a.m.), an earlier start time for “Morning Edition” (weekdays, 5 a.m.), and the addition of “Car Talk” (Saturdays, 10 a.m.; Sundays, noon.). Listeners also will be able to hear a Sunday morning encore presentation of “A Prairie Home Companion” at 10 a.m. (original broadcast is Saturday at 6 p.m.). Melissa Ingells will join Scott Pohl as the WKAR anchor of “Morning Edition” and Erin Toner will anchor the WKAR news segments of “All Things Considered” weekdays at 4 p.m.

90.5 WKAR continues its commitment to present the finest classical music, with more than two-thirds of the station’s weekly airtime devoted to classical music. WKAR’s Mark Schwitzgoebel can be heard weekdays after “Morning Edition.” Jody Knol’s program can be heard weekday afternoons from 1to 4 p.m.

The remaining hours of classical music feature Public Radio International’s “Classical 24” music hosts, including Jeff Esworthy, Bob Christiansen, Steve Seel, Lauren Rico, Lynne Warfel-Holt and Valerie Kahler.

Jazz fans can find Doug Collar’s weekly jazz program on Saturdays, beginning at 8 p.m., with the new title “Jazz ‘til Midnight.”

Weekend programming favorites, including Bob Blackman’s “The Folk Tradition,” “The Folk Sampler,” “The Thistle and Shamrock,” “Celtic Connections” (all heard Sunday evenings), the Saturday night broadcast of “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Weekend All Things Considered,” remain unchanged.

AM 870 listeners can hear a mix of NPR news and exciting new talk programs from the network including weekday offerings such as “The Connection” (10 a.m.), “Here & Now” (noon.), and “Day to Day” (1 p.m.). The station continues to air “SportsTalk” (2 p.m.), followed by “The World” (3 p.m.) and “All Things Considered” (now at 4 p.m.).

Continuing favorites include “Weekend Edition,” “This American Life,” “Living on Earth,” “Justice Talking,” “The Motley Fool Radio Show,” “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me,” “Car Talk” and “Sound Money.”