NPR and Sirius renewed an exclusive long-term agreement for NPR to continue programming two public radio channels featuring shows from NPR, other public radio producers and NPR member stations.
Included is a deal to make Sirius the satellite radio distributor of a new morning news and information program for adults 25–44 that NPR will launch in all media, including HD Radio, online, mobile devices and podcasts.
As we reported earlier, NPR intends to launch the program, being developed in New York rather than NPR’s Washington headquarters, in September.
The two public radio channels — NPR Now and NPR Talk — include a slate of news talk, information, cultural and entertainment programming. Among the news and talk shows are “Talk of the Nation,” “News & Notes,” “Fresh Air,” “The Diane Rehm Show,” “Day to Day,” “Marketplace,” “On the Media,” “Radio Times,” “Justice Talking,” “Latino USA” and “Forum.” Entertainment shows include “A Prairie Home Companion,” “Car Talk,” “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!,” “Chef’s Table” and “Travel with Rick Steves.” “From the Top,” “Jazz Profiles” and “Soundprint” are among the arts, culture and music series on the schedules.
NPR is still working on a programming feed for a sixth HD2 channel, which will be more news- and talk-focused, a spokeswoman confirmed. When the network launched its five multicast music and streaming channels in 2005, we reported it hoped eventually to launch another with a talk focus. No launch date is set for that.
