KPCC Expands Its ‘AirTalk’ on Public Affairs by an Hour

Starting today, KPCC-FM (89.3) expands its local public-affairs program, “Larry Mantle’s AirTalk,” by an hour. It will now run from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Pasadena-based station, meanwhile, is scheduling National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” two hours earlier to run from 1 to 3 p.m., making it the earliest broadcast of the program in the area. Rival public station KCRW-FM (89.9) starts the newsmagazine at 3 p.m. KPCC will broadcast the international news show “The World” from 3 to 4 p.m.

KPCC General Manager Rod Foster said the changes are “an opportunity to better inform, educate, entertain and serve the KPCC community.”

Mantle, who also is KPCC’s program director, said the “AirTalk” expansion “sends the signal that KPCC is committed to excellent and intelligent talk radio. I promise nothing less than dialogues which I believe our listeners will find relevant, timely and, above all, interesting.”

“AirTalk” has added a roster of special correspondents, each of whom will have a regular weekly segment. They are Jonathan Kirsch on books, Brad Pomerance for entertainment and media, Michael Shermer on science and Jill Stewart on local politics. The regularly featured segment “Filmtalk” will now be heard from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays.