Beginning Monday, October 2, you may notice some changes to the KOSU night and weekend line-up. We’re focusing on what you’ve told us are your favorite shows and hosts, adjusting to changing listening habits and bringing some of the best new up-and-coming shows in public radio to KOSU. We’ve tried to curate an enjoyable listening experience that allows you to seamlessly transition from show to show. We’re thinking about our night and weekend schedules in three distinctive blocks: educational entertainment, weekend vibe entertainment and music discovery.
Why are you making these changes?
The last time we made significant changes to the KOSU schedule was in August 2012 when The Spy came on board. A lot has happened in the last five years including the death of the beloved Tom Magliozzi, co-host of Car Talk. Since Tom died in 2014, NPR has been producing Best of Car Talk to celebrate this iconic public radio program, but that production ends on September 30.
With the departure of this beloved program, we decided it was time to evaluate all of our weekend shows. As it turns out, your listening habits have changed over the last few years, so we decided it is time to change with you.
What shows are being affected?
There are some shows that are leaving the KOSU schedule, including Best of Car Talk, Tasting Notes, Gold Soundz, On Being, Weekend All Things Considered, Millions Now Listening Will Never Die and American Routes. Dates of Our Lives will transition from a radio show into a podcast.
However, we are adding some of the best up and coming shows in public radio, including Freakonomics, Ask Me Another, Planet Money, How I Built This, The New Yorker Radio Hour and a specials hour to feature short-run favorites including Invisibilia.
In addition, four new music shows are joining the weekend music discovery line-up:
- Tune In Tulsa, a show about musical influences on some of the state’s leaders in arts, culture and politics
- Okie Vintage Vinyl, a show hosted by Rockabilly musician TJ Mayes featuring some gems on old 45s from Oklahoma’s musical past
- No One Man, a show hosted by Don Data focusing on hip-hop, funk, soul, and everything in between
- Grand Union Radio, a show hosted by Oklahoma emcee Jabee and Chelsey O delving into the culture and history of hip-hop while also showcasing local musicians
Why are you moving shows around?
There were three things that informed our decision: your feedback, listener data and changing listener habits. For example, we know from data that as a whole, you are listening for shorter periods of time on weekend mornings than you were five years ago, so we need shows that meet that need. Another trend that has emerged from research is that listeners like to hear more educational shows in the morning and move to an entertainment vibe in the afternoon.
Also, we’ve heard from so many of you that you most associate Ferris O’Brien with the brand of The Spy, so in keeping with that spirit, Ferris is moving to an earlier timeslot: 7 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday. With Ferris taking over an earlier timeslot, our music discovery shows will now be grouped together on the weekends.
How did you create this schedule?
Based on the research, data and anecdotal feedback, we’ve created three blocks of programming for the weekends.
Educational Entertainment: Weekends are an opportunity to take a deep dive into issues and stories you may have only heard in headlines during the week. However, on weekend mornings you still have things to do, so you’ll never feel left out of the new morning line-up as you jump in and out of the car to go to the farmers market, church or a soccer game.
Weekend Vibe Entertainment: After noon on Saturdays and Sunday, we’ll switch to more long form easy listening shows that will ease you into nights full of music discovery. The shows in this block are longer and more involved, such as This American Life and RadioLab. Think of it like watching a movie with your ears. Grab a lemonade or a beer and sit back with us.
Music Discovery: Historically on the radio schedule, weekends were a place where specialty music went, so as you tuned your radio at night, you had treasures to discover. We’re going back to that model, and we hope you’ll go with us. Some of your favorite weeknight shows from The Spy are moving to the weekend, and they’ll be joined by some new favorites.
What do I do if I don’t like the new schedule?
Change is tough, and we do not take these changes likely. We hope you’ll give this a chance for at least three months. Then, if you have constructive feedback, we’re absolutely here and ready to listen. Nothing about creating radio is an exact science, especially when you’re dealing with a diverse audience with even more diverse tastes. We’re trying to create the best schedule to try to tie us all together as a community. So, give it a try. Then, let’s talk.
KOSU's new schedule, beginning October 2:
Monday - Thursday:
- 12 a.m. - The Spy
- 5 a.m. - Morning Edition
- 9 a.m. - On Point
- 11 a.m. - Here & Now
- 12 p.m. - Fresh Air
- 1 p.m. - The Takeaway
- 2 p.m. - The World
- 3 p.m. - All Things Considered
- 6 p.m. - Marketplace
- 6:30 p.m. - All Things Considered
- 7 p.m. - The Spy with Ferris O'Brien
Friday:
- 12 a.m. - The Spy
- 5 a.m. - Morning Edition
- 9 a.m. - On Point
- 11 a.m. - Here & Now
- 12 p.m. - Fresh Air
- 1 p.m. - The Takeaway
- 2 p.m. - The World
- 3 p.m. - All Things Considered
- 6 p.m. - Marketplace
- 6:30 p.m. - All Things Considered
- 7 p.m. - Oklahoma Rock Show
- 9 p.m. - Excuse Me
- 10 p.m. - Wiretap
- 11 p.m. - No One Man
Saturday:
- 12 a.m. - The Spy
- 5 a.m. - Milk Street Radio
- 6 a.m. – Travel with Rick Steves
- 7 a.m. – Weekend Edition Saturday
- 9 a.m. - Freakonomics
- 10 a.m. – Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me
- 11 a.m. – Ask Me Another
- 12 p.m. – RadioLab
- 1 p.m. – This American Life
- 2 p.m. – The Dinner Party Download
- 3 p.m. – Planet Money
- 3:30 p.m - How I Built This
- 4 p.m. – The Moth Radio Hour
- 5 p.m. – A Prairie Home Companion
- 7 p.m. – Everything All At Once Forever
- 8 p.m. – Spy 101
- 9 p.m. - State of the Art
- 10 p.m. - Turn of the Century
- 11 p.m. – Grand Union Radio
Sunday:
- 12 a.m. - SpyLab
- 3 a.m. - The Spy
- 5 a.m. - Living On Earth
- 6 a.m. – TED Radio Hour
- 7 a.m. – Weekend Edition Sunday
- 9 a.m. – The New Yorker Radio Hour
- 10 a.m. – Milk Street Radio
- 11 a.m. – Toaster Brunch
- 1 p.m. – Sound Opinions
- 2 p.m. – Specials Hour
- 3 p.m. – Reveal
- 4 p.m. – This American Life
- 5 p.m. – Tune In Tulsa
- 6 p.m. - Okie Vintage Vinyl
- 7 p.m. - Juke Joint Revival
- 8 p.m. – Tumbleweeds All the Way Down
- 9 p.m. - Red Dirt Radio Hour
- 10 p.m. - Freakbeat
- 11 p.m. – The Spy
See the full new schedule in printable grid format here.
