WBUR cancels 'Radio Boston'

WBUR announced Friday that it would be cancelling “Radio Boston,” a midday talk show that has been part of the station for 17 years.

The decision was made in order to enable a wider weekday programming shakeup that will include a longer “Morning Edition,” new times for “BBC NewsHour” and “On Point,” and an emphasis on original, local journalism, the station announced.

This was characterized as a “strategic move,” and no staff members are being cut.

“The exceptional work of the Radio Boston team will continue, but in a new way that goes beyond the confines of an hour-long daily radio show,” Dan Mauzy, executive editor of WBUR’s local newsroom, said in a statement. “This shift is a more contemporary approach to daily journalism — and will fuel our public news service throughout the day and across platforms.”

“Radio Boston” became a daily show in 2010, and has since served listeners as WBUR’s only show dedicated entirely to local news. The final show will be on Dec. 20.

In March, WBUR leadership said the station was struggling after losing close to half of its on-air sponsorship income over the last five years. By late April, seven staff members were laid off and 24 chose to take voluntary buyouts, affecting some 14% of the station’s staff.

“We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can with the resources that we have, and having the biggest impact with our audiences,” Mauzy told WBUR reporters for a story on the situation.

Earlier this year, WBUR announced that “Radio Boston” host Tiziana Dearing would become the host of “Morning Edition.” In that role, she is continuing to interview local leaders like Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

“Morning Edition,” which also includes national and global news, will broadcast on WBUR from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays. “BBC NewsHour” will air at 10 a.m., “On Point” will shift to 11 a.m., and “Here & Now” will add an updated hour at 3 p.m.

The station says the new lineup is meant to bring “national and international shows together while supercharging local news throughout the day and on WBUR’s digital platforms.”

The current producers of “Radio Boston” will shift to work on “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” which WBUR says will allow them to focus more on local reporting and arranging interviews with high-profile guests.

Both WBUR and GBH, Boston’s other NPR news station, struggled this year to brave financial headwinds. GBH laid off 31 employees in May, leaving some newsroom staff “blindsided.” WBUR generally has higher ratings than GBH, but the latter dominates midday hours with its popular “Boston Public Radio” program hosted by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan.

“This move is not in response to any competition,” Mauzy told a WBUR reporter. “We think that this is a smarter way for us to produce journalism.”

The following daily schedule will go into effect on Jan. 6:

• “Morning Edition,” 5 – 10 a.m.
• “BBC NewsHour,” 10 – 11 a.m.
• “On Point,” 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• “Here & Now,” 12 – 2 p.m.
• “Fresh Air,” 2 – 3 p.m.
• “Here & Now” (third hour), 3 – 4 p.m.
• “All Things Considered,” 4 – 6:30 p.m.
• “Marketplace,” 6:30 – 7 p.m.