89.5 WMFV ANNOUNCES NEW LINEUP
NPR AND LOCAL PROGRAMMING TO DEBUT IN THE VILLAGES, LEESBURG AND SURROUNDING AREAS ON SEPT. 2
August 29, 2019 – Public radio station 89.5 WMFV debuts a new programming lineup on Monday, Sept. 2, that brings more NPR and Central Florida news programming to The Villages, Leesburg and the Golden Triangle.
“We’re excited to bring WMFE’s award-winning programming and NPR News to The Villages area,” said Stephen Yasko, interim president and general manager and director of content and audience development at 89.5 WMFV and 90.7 WMFE. “We’ll be devoting a lot of airtime to cover the important issues affecting one of the fastest-growing regions of the country.”
Focusing on the Community
Joining the program lineup is the locally produced Central Florida news and in-depth conversation program, Intersection, hosted by Matthew Peddie.
“We will bring Intersection into the region to explore the political, social and economic conditions affecting Sumter, Lake and surrounding counties,” Peddie said. The show will air noon Thursday and then ramp up to Monday-Thursday by the end of the year. Listeners will be able to attend live broadcasts and call in to comment on the topic of the day. Read more about Intersection's expansion and some shifts in programming on WMFE.
Future plans include hiring a full-time reporter who lives in The Villages area to cover public meetings, the economy and the substantial growth occurring in the region. “Public radio’s model of community support will enable us to deploy the maximum amount of available resources to serve the interests of the residents,” Yasko said.
Comings and Goings
National and international programs joining the schedule are 1A, Here & Now, Fresh Air, Science Friday, As it Happens, and BBC New's Newshour and World Service. Local programs include Intersection and The Florida Roundup, which focuses on statewide issues and politics. Growing Bolder moves to 7 p.m. Weekends will carry a slew of programs that feature diverse storytelling, investigative journalism and the arts, including the NPR news quiz Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Live From Here and Travel with Rick Steves. Read more about the new programs below.
The changes are more than a year in the making and respond to the needs indicated in listener surveys in 2018 and 2019. The move also streamlines operations and solidifies the sister stations’ identity as “Central Florida’s NPR News Stations.”
Classical music and The Gene Martin Show will depart the WMFV schedule. The 84-year-old Gene Martin, who once rubbed elbows with Frank Sinatra, has been a pillar of the community for the last 25 years. His last show will be Aug. 30.
“I’m saddened to see Gene Martin’s show retire,” Yasko said. “It’s one of the best American Songbook shows there is. But with the change, comes an opportunity to implement a news-based programming schedule that serves curious minds.”
Although it’s departing WMFV’s schedule, classical music is still available 24 hours a day on WMFE’s HD-2 Classical station. If you’re in the Orlando area, tune to 90.7-2 on your HD radio or stream from anywhere at wmfe.org, wmfv.org or in the WMFE mobile app.
Get to Know Your New Programs
View the full new schedule here starting Monday, Sept. 2
Weekdays
Intersection
Noon & 9 p.m., Thursday (expands to Monday-Thursday by the end of the year)
Intersection is a local news and in-depth conversation program hosted by Matthew Peddie. We talk with political leaders, environmental experts, historians, writers, musicians, and other newsmakers from around Central Florida.
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The Florida Roundup
Noon & 9 p.m., Friday
Each week Melissa Ross of WJCT and Tom Hudson of WLRN in Miami, along with a panel of journalists from around the state, discuss the week in Florida news in The Florida Roundup Statewide edition.
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BBC Newshour
9 a.m., weekdays
Global news and analysis from the BBC World Service. Join the BBC’s leading team of presenters for the best interviews, features and analysis of world events.
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1A
10 a.m. & 11 a.m., weekdays
Every day, host Joshua Johnson convenes a conversation about the most important issues of our time. The show takes a deep and unflinching look at America, bringing context and insight to stories unfolding across the country and the world.
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Here & Now
2 p.m., Monday-Thursday
A live production from NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with public radio stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it’s happening, with timely, smart and in-depth news and conversation.
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Science Friday
2 p.m. & 3 p.m., Friday
Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and try to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand.
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Fresh Air
3 p.m., Monday-Thursday
Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio’s most popular programs. The show has “probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insights.”
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As it Happens
8 p.m. weekdays
As It Happens is a Canadian interview show from CBC Radio. Night after night, host Carol Off brings you in-depth, conversations with the people near, or at, the center of the day's news.
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Highlights of New Weekend Programs
NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
10 a.m. Saturday & noon Sunday
Each week on the radio you can test your knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what’s real news and what’s made up.
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Live From Here
6 p.m. Saturday & 10 a.m. Sunday
Live from Here with Chris Thile is a variety show that features a unique blend of musical performances, comedy and audience interaction. Acclaimed musician and songwriter Chris Thile welcomes a wide range of well-known and up-and-coming talent to share the stage and create a beautiful listening experience.
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Travel with Rick Steves
3 p.m. Sunday
Travel with Rick Steves is a fun, hour-long, practical talk show with guest experts and questions from travelers. This weekly program is a lively conversation between travelers and the experts as we learn to explore our world smartly, smoothly, and thoughtfully.
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View more programs and information.
Here are the key dates in the history of WMFV:
September 2017: WMFE announces that it has reached an agreement with Daystar Public Radio Inc. to purchase the radio station license for WKSG-FM 89.5 (The Boulevard) in Cedar Creek, just north of The Villages.
January 2018: We close on the purchase of WKSG-FM 89.5 (The Boulevard), and announce new call letters of WMFV, a nod to the station’s focus on The Villages.
March 2018: 89.5 WMFV begins broadcasting with a soft launch format featuring NPR’s two newsmagazines, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and classical music. We start collecting feedback to build a permanent program schedule.
April 2019: Another listener survey solicits feedback from WMFE and WMFV listeners.
May 2019: We begin simulcasting 90.7 WMFE’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered on 89.5 WMFV. Listeners to WMFV now hear Central Florida news stories and updates from hosts Talia Blake and Nicole Darden-Creston.
September 2019: WMFV’s permanent schedule debuts, mirroring the trusted NPR brand of programs already offered on sister station 90.7 WMFE.
About Community Communications Inc.:
Community Communications Inc. is a non-profit, member-supported, community-based public broadcasting company that operates 90.7 WMFE-FM, metro Orlando’s primary provider of NPR programming; 90.7-2 Classical; and 89.5 WMFV, public radio for The Villages, Leesburg and The Golden Triangle. Part of the community since 1980, Community Communications focuses on providing quality national and local news and programming. Visit wmfe.org and wmfv.org for more information.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact Communications and Marketing Specialist Jenny Babcock at jbabcock@wmfe.org or 407-273-2300 ext. 112.