Kansas Public Radio is adding another broadcast frequency to its family of stations covering northeast, east-central, southeast Kansas and the Kansas City metro.
Beginning in early June, 96.1 FM began broadcasting from its Lawrence transmitter. The station broadcasts KPR’s HD service – KPR2 – throughout Lawrence and the surrounding areas, including the towns of Eudora and Tonganoxie.
Normally, listeners would need a special HD Radio or an audio streaming service to hear KPR2, but 96.1 FM will be one of the few stations in the nation to broadcast an HD signal over the standard FM band.
“I’m very excited that KPR listeners in Lawrence and the surrounding areas can now turn to 96.1 on their radio dial to hear NPR and BBC news, not to mention great talk radio programs like Radiolab and Freakonomics,” said Dan Skinner, Director of Kansas Public Radio.
NPR’s signature newsmagazines, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, will be simulcast from 5 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Other NPR news and entertainment shows will be carried live on the weekends.
News from the BBC World Service will be the bulk of programming when KPR2 is not broadcasting NPR or KPR news and entertainment shows.
Other programs on the new KPR2 schedule that are not on Kansas Public Radio’s main service are:
- Radiolab, hosted by Jad Abumrad. Radiolab is a show about curiosity, where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy and human experience. Saturdays at noon.
- Snap Judgment, hosted by Glynn Washington. Snap Judgment’s fast-paced, intimate and musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see a sliver of the world through another’s eye. Fridays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.
- Freakonomics, a compelling look at economics and related topics from the authors of the best-selling book. Sundays at noon.
- Reveal is an investigative journalism program for when you’ve heard the news but want to know what really happened. That’s what Reveal is all about: finding out what’s going on behind the scenes, hidden from public view. Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.
- New Yorker Radio Hour. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine and reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Sundays at 11 a.m.
- On the Media. While maintaining the civility and fairness that are the hallmarks of public radio, On the Media tackles sticky issues with a frankness and transparency. Mondays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.
- Perspective is a weekly public affairs program from host Richard Baker, who tackles one issue every show for an in-depth examination. Sundays at 6:30 a.m.
KPR2 will also feature rebroadcasts of popular shows: This American Life, Right Between the Ears and KPR Presents.
There is no change to programming on Kansas Public Radio. It will continue to carry NPR news and entertainment shows, classical music, jazz, local and Statehouse news.
The full schedule of KPR2 shows can be viewed HERE.