KPFT HD-2 and New Programming
After a long, fund-drive-inspired hiatus, I wanted to mention that I will begin posting my variety of KPFT and media content again. I have a post-drive update, some programming announcements and more.
KPFT’s recent pledge drive was long and challenging. Thank you to listeners who helped us raise $296,000 this drive. Our final tally was not as much as we had projected, but all Pacifica stations are struggling to raise money in a tough economy, so it was a positive fund drive nonetheless.
I made our two biggest announcements on Monday’s KPFT Report to the Community, the monthly managers’ call-in show I host with General Manager Duane Bradley. Along with that information, in case you missed it, I have an update since Monday to share.
First, KPFT is pleased to announce that it launched its HD-2 additional programming stream during the recent pledge drive. Last year, KPFT began delivering CD-quality audio to listeners via its HD-1 feed. The HD-2 schedule permits those who own HD Radios to hear programming concurrent with what you normally hear on our FM and HD-1 streams. Our current HD-2 schedule is as follows: Weekdays, Democracy Now! airs live at 7 a.m. and is repeated at 8 a.m.; Free Speech Radio News airs at 3 p.m.; Hard Knock Radio airs live at 6 p.m.; and Flashpoints airs live at 7 p.m. On Saturdays, hear Uprising Weekly at 10 a.m. and Explorations at 11 a.m. Sundays, KPFT presents the hour-long edition of the Pacifica Radio Archives’ popular From the Vault program at 10 a.m. At 11 to 1 p.m., tune in for Sunday Salon, live from Berkeley. Local programs on HD-2 include radio theater with Electromatic Radio, Mondays afternoons at 3:30 and freeform music with Transmissions from Mars, Sundays at 11 p.m. At this time, KPFT offers BBC news and features throughout the rest of the schedule.
Expect to see more on the HD-2 schedule in the coming weeks. Programs in the works include bringing our popular weekday community access hour, Open Journal, to the weekends, and more local additions.
Second, I am pleased to write about an exciting new national show, hosted by Dr. Helen Caldicott, launching with KPFT as its home station.
Dr. Caldicott is a noted scientist, author and activist whose honors include a Nobel Peace Prize nomination by Dr. Linus Pauling and being named by the Smithsonian Institution as one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Her new show, If You Love This Planet, will call KPFT its home, and it has already been picked by five more stations. Dr. Caldicott will bring some of the most important thinkers on science, the environment and nuclear issues to the airwaves. Tune in for promotion of If You Love This Planet with Dr. Helen Caldicott very soon. If you are outside of KPFT’s signal area, please encourage your local station to air If You Love This Planet.
On Monday’s Report to the Community, I announced that If You Love This Planet would replace Michio Kaku’s Explorations on our schedule. There was quite an outcry from listeners. Rightfully so. Dr. Kaku does an important program. The feedback was wonderful, and helped guide us down a new course. As a result, KPFT expects to maintain Explorations in its current spot and present a new, even more ideal, place for If You Love This Planet. The goal is to bring you great programming. We hope that you support both programs in future fund drives, and enjoy the perspectives Drs. Caldicott and Kaku offer.
Finally, KPFT’s Program Council is seeking listeners interested in participating in program evaluations, email me at pd@kpft.org if you are interested in helping out.
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