Michigan Radio will be introducing an updated weekend program schedule, effective Jan. 6, 2018. This includes the addition of three new shows, the departure of two others and revised times for half a dozen other current shows.
So why are you changing the lineup of some of your weekend shows?
Sometimes we have to make hard decisions about what programs to include in our program schedule and modify our line-up of shows. These changes can be prompted by shows no longer being available to us, new shows being developed, and emerging trends that we see. Please be assured that these changes are only made after careful consideration, and are based on audience research, direct listener feedback, and changes in the availability of programs.
We understand that listeners come to rely on listening to favorite shows at familiar times, and we try to find the mix of programs that are most valued by the largest number of our listeners.
What are the new shows you’re adding?
It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders - Saturdays, 4 PM
If you are exhausted by the news but can't seem to focus on anything else, this new weekly show with former NPR political reporter Sam Sanders will help. It's Been a Minute is an irreverent, casual space to process the pace of current events and get introduced to new favorites in music, TV and more.
Hidden Brain - Sundays, 11 AM
Millions of people have heard Shankar Vedantam's engaging reports on social science research on NPR shows like Morning Edition and his Hidden Brain podcast. Shankar now brings his signature knowledge, wit and sense of humor to this new one-hour weekly program. A blend of science and storytelling, Hidden Brain reveals the patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the imperceptible forces that influence our relationships.
Freakonomics Radio - Sundays, 12 Noon
Hosted by Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics Radio ferrets out connections between seemingly unrelated things. The program explores the riddles of everyday life and the weird wrinkles of human nature—from cheating and crime to parenting and sports—using the tools of economics to explore real-world behavior.
What’s happening to Car Talk and Dinner Party Download?
Car Talk has been a popular and long running program, but new episodes of the show have not been produced since 2012, two years before the death of beloved co-host Tom Magliozzi. The show continued after that as the Best of Car Talk using material from the program’s archives. Now, after five years of airing this archival show, we’ve decided it’s time to bid a fond farewell to Tom and Ray and their wacky car advice and find another way for you to “waste a perfectly good hour” with a brand new show…something even Ray concurs with.
Also earlier this year, American Public Media announced that they would be ending production of Dinner Party Download.
Why are several shows moving to new times?
Radiolab - Saturdays at 2 PM and 10 PM
We’ve received requests from many listeners asking to hear Radiolab earlier in the day. In our recent weekend program survey, Radiolab was by far the show that most listeners said they would like to hear at a different time. We will continue to air a second broadcast of Radiolab on Saturday nights at 10 PM.
Live From Here with Chris Thile (formerly A Prairie Home Companion) - Saturdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 9 PM
Since Chris Thile took over as the host of A Prairie Home Companion in 2016, the show has focused much more on music, reflecting Thile’s background as a preeminent bluegrass musician. The show has continued to evolve (including a recent change in the show name) as Thile has continued to shape the program for a new generation of listeners. We feel that this new music-focused show will appeal to a large audience of younger listeners later in the evening on Sunday. The live broadcast of the show can still be heard Saturdays at 6 PM.
Ask Me Another- Saturdays at 8 PM
Ask Me Another is a show that seems to elicit widely divergent views from many of our listeners. Many people love the show’s fast-paced blend of brainteasers, pub trivia and comedy. However, audience surveys and listener feedback have also shown that, for a large portion of our audience, this show does not tickle their funny bone. We feel that airing this show on Saturday nights is a good match for the rambunctious nature of this show, which is recorded in front of a live audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn.
Several other Saturday shows, including This American Life (now Saturdays at 11 AM as well as Sundays at 3 PM), Snap Judgment (now Saturdays at 1 PM as well as 9 PM) and TED Radio Hour (now Saturdays at 3 PM as well as 6 AM) are moving slightly because of the program changes noted above.
How can I view the new program schedule?
You can view Michigan Radio’s updated program schedule here, or to find your favorite program, click here.
We hope you’ll enjoy our refreshed weekend line up and give the new shows a try. After you’ve given them a listen, feel free to drop us a line at michigan.radio@umich.edu to let us know what you think.
Cheers to a great 2018 of weekend listening!
