NPR audience up from last year

Non-commercial radio stations rarely receive mention in radio-ratings reports. However, Arbitron's survey last fall found that 23 million Americans regularly tune in to National Public Radio stations each week.

NPR has reported that this is a 6 percent increase over the previous year and a 41 percent increase over just the past four years.

Much of the increase is attributed to a renewed emphasis on international news and issues in recent years. "Over the last four years, NPR has been one of the few media organizations to expand serious, in-depth reporting of news from around the nation and around the world," said Kevin Klose, NPR's president and chief executive officer. "Our audience growth is directly traceable to our increasingly unique position as a credible, trusted source of careful and responsible journalism.

"The strength of NPR also lies with our partnership with member stations, which are an increasingly meaningful source of local news and content."

During this most recent Arbitron survey, one in seven adults age 25 or older, and almost three in 10 college graduates, listened to NPR member stations.

In fact, NPR's "Morning Edition" is the second most-listened-to radio show in the nation, just behind Rush Limbaugh. The cumulative audience for "Morning Edition" is estimated at 13.2 million.

I don't have any local estimates for NPR stations (FM stations KCUA, KUSU, KUSR, KCPW, KPCW and KUER), but I'm betting the Salt Lake market is no exception to this increase in National Public Radio's audience.

• RADIO CHANGES — KALL

(AM-700) will add Fox Sports Radio to its lineup on Monday, April 25.

— WEEKDAYS: midnight-4 a.m., Third Shift on Fox, Jorge Sedano

4-6 a.m., The First Team on Fox, Steve Czaban

6-10 a.m., Jon Wright; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jim Rome; 1-4 p.m., Matt Thomas; 4-7 p.m., Bill Riley; 7-8 p.m., Fox Game Time Live, Craig Shemon; 8 p.m.-midnight, Fox Game Time React, JT the Brick

— SATURDAY (starting April 30): midnight to 4 a.m., Third Shift on Fox; 4-8 a.m., Fox Overtime; 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Fox Game Time Saturday Warm Up; 2-6 p.m., Fox Game Time Saturday; 6-10 p.m., Fox Game Time Saturday React; 10 p.m.-midnight, Fox Game Time Rewind