Maine Public Radio adjusts its programming

BANGOR – Maine Public Radio will start the New Year with some minor adjustments to its programming schedule to include more classical and jazz music.

The new schedule includes an additional hour of classical music, a replacement for the discontinued Satellite Sisters program, a new program about the best music of the 20th century, an extra half-hour of “Friday Night Jazz” and new times for “Selected Shorts,” “Sound and Spirit,” “Schickele Mix” and “Mainely Opera.”

Charles Beck, vice president for radio services, said the adjustments are designed to improve the user-friendliness of the schedule.

“Our goal is to add to the overall value of our many diverse program offerings,” Beck said. “We hope to improve the schedule by placing programs at times where many listeners are likely to appreciate them and be more able to listen.”

Beginning in January, Leitha Christie will offer an hour of classical music at 3 p.m. Mondays and will expand the Friday listener requests to three hours, starting at 9 a.m.

“Selected Shorts” will move one hour earlier to 7 p.m. Sunday, replacing the discontinued Satellite Sisters.

Ellen Kushner’s “Sound and Spirit” program moves from 3 p.m. Mondays to 8 p.m. Sundays.

“The NPR 100,” a new program focusing on the top 100 American musical compositions of the 20th century will air at 3 p.m. Thursdays.

“Schickele Mix” moves to 9 p.m. Mondays.

“Mainely Opera” will follow the regular opera programming on Saturdays, and will vary in duration, depending on the length of the operas.

“Friday Night Jazz” with Rich Tozier will expand to include an extra half-hour of jazz, beginning at 9 p.m.

Maine Public Radio took several steps to solicit public comment regarding the programming adjustments. Some programs were aired on a trial basis, and members responded to opinion surveys. In addition to staff responding to scores of phone calls and e-mails statewide, Maine Public Broadcasting’s community advisory board reviewed and endorsed schedule recommendations.

The schedule adjustments were crafted with the need for balance in the schedule, the importance of quality for public radio programming and the need to implement changes thoughtfully.

The schedule is meant to better serve the interests of the audience, offer quality not found on other radio stations and address the needs of listeners with more of the thoughtful and intelligent mix of programming that Maine Public Radio offers.

Additional information about the Maine Public Radio schedule adjustments may be found on the Web at www.mainepublicradio.org, by calling audience services at (800) 884-1717 or by reviewing the Maine Public Radio member magazine, Airplay.

Maine Public Radio is a service of Maine Public Broadcasting, the largest member-supported organization in Maine, providing public television and radio services to audiences in Maine, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, Canada.

Maine Public Radio attracts 133,000 listeners each week and is the only statewide informational, cultural and educational station available to all of Maine every day.

For information, visit www.mainepublicradio.org.