Alabama Educational Television Commission’s Public News/Talk/Classical 89.3 WLRH Huntsville will drop all programming from NPR on October 1.
The station states the change is due to the loss of federal funding to the station and NPR. NPR distributed programming currently makes up 32% of WLRH’s schedule including Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
The station notes it will fill the gaps with a new local morning show, continuing to provide news from the Associated Press, BBC and its morning and afternoon “Tennessee Valley News Update”.
The station’s announcement says, “WLRH staff will be working together to get back to the station’s roots of focusing more on our long-standing existing local programs, as well as developing new programming to better reflect our community. The WLRH audience will hear more local news, arts, culture, classical music and music of all genres, and original storytelling. The majority of WLRH programming will remain in place.”
To our esteemed listeners,
The word is out about WLRH no longer carrying NPR programming. While this is true, we want you to know that this is not an easy transition for any of our staff, especially with NPR having been a companion for us and for so many of you over the years.
Yes, we lost federal funding, and that seems to be permanent, as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shuttering as of January 2026.
For nearly 50 years, you have helped keep WLRH on the air with your generous support. We appreciate every single one of you who supports all that WLRH provides: the noncommercial programming we carry and our local programs we produce in-house, our free PSA program for local nonprofits, meeting you and hearing your comments in person at our open houses and at various community events, and more.
Here’s the good news you may not already know…
1) WLRH will still keep you informed of national and global news from sources like the Associated Press and the BBC.
2) Local news coverage will remain in our programming schedule with the Tennessee Valley News Update, still airing mornings and afternoons.
3) In addition to re-airing The Invisible City and Arts Underground, WLRH is giving its local programs, Valley Sounds, Talkin’ the Blues, and Brass, Reeds and Percussion, a second airing during the week.
4) WLRH is keeping- and expanding- programming from other public radio distributors.
5) The thing we’re most excited about… WLRH’s brand new morning show launches Wednesday, October 1, 2025!
This unique opportunity to launch our new, daily morning show allows us to better serve and reflect our community. Two co-hosts will bring you a variety of thoughtful interviews and compelling stories, produced by WLRH staff, featuring community voices.
We invite you to tune in on October 1, 2025, as we debut WLRH’s new sound, which is rooted in our history as a community radio station dedicated to serving our friends and neighbors.
For those who would like to continue hearing NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, you can support local NPR affiliates such as WJAB, or you can listen with the NPR app or on NPR’s website.We are grateful for all of you, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on.
Until then, take care,Erich Brukner
WLRH General ManagerKaty Ganaway
WLRH Program Director
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com