WPPB 88.3 FM Revamps Programming Lineup for 2014
Southampton-based radio station WPPB 88.3 FM has introduced a new schedule for 2014 that retains all of its locally produced programs while introducing some dynamic public radio programming.
“We worked to find what would represent the best of American society, looking to local producers working with local stations that create original programming,” general manager Wally Smith says.
The Monday evening schedule adds CounterSpin, at 5:30, which critically examines major news stories and refutes biased and inaccurate coverage. Planetary Radio, at 7, with Bill Nye the Science Guy and guest astronomers discusses space exploration; Making Contact at 7:30 raises public consciousness of underrepresented perspectives. Late night Mondays, from 11 to midnight, Weekend Radio with Robert Conrad features a mix of classical music cross-over and comedy.
BackStory with the American History Guys Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. connects American history to current events. With Good Reason, Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., includes interviews on subjects as varied as wine making to the nature of evil. The Dinner Party, Saturdays at 5 p.m., is an hour of culture, food and conversation.
“Our popular program hosts, Bonnie Grice, Brian Cosgrove, and Ed German and our WPPB productions showcasing local events and artists will continue to be the bedrock of this public radio station,” Smith assures. “The additions we have made complement WPPB’s local strengths in music and cultural programming and will enable us to bring some new voices to our coverage of politics, social issues, literature, and current affairs.”
American Public Media’s Marketplace will continue to broadcast daily at 5 p.m. and the PBS NewsHour remains at 6 p.m. Added to the midday schedule five days a week is the news program Here and Now from WBUR Boston, from noon to 1 p.m.
With the schedule shakeup, the BCC News Service has been dropped from the lineup. Smith says that NPR’s programming will provide international news coverage, as the BCC had done for years on 88.3 FM. “This change enables us to direct more of our program budget to a wider variety of programs,” he adds.
Smith says WPPB is looking forward to an exciting future, including a planned relocation of offices to atop Southampton Village Hall and a move of the studio to Southampton Center.
For the full program guide, visit peconicpublicbroadcasting.org.