Cumulus News/Talk 630 WPRO Providence/99.7 WEAN Wakefield-Peacedale RI restructures its schedule in the aftermath of the death of afternoon host Buddy Cianci earlier this year.
Cianci served two long terms as Mayor of Providence as well as five years in prison before joining WPRO as afternoon host in September 2007. With his passing Dan Yorke will now move from 12-3pm back to the 3-6pm slot he held prior to Cianci’s arrival at the station. Matt Allen will move from 6-9pm to Yorke’s 12-3pm slot, while Cianci’s former producer Tara Granahan is given the 6-9pm slot.
The full WPRO lineup includes:
5am-9am – The News with Gene Valicenti
9am-12pm – John DePetro
12pm-3pm – Matt Allen
3pm-6pm – Dan Yorke
6pm-9pm – Tara Granahan
9pm-1am – John Batchelor
1am-5am – Red Eye Radio
Cumulus Media announces that News Talk 630 AM and 99.7 FM WPRO will debut a new live and local on-air line-up on Monday, May 2, 2016, continuing WPRO’s legacy of compelling live and local programming as the #1 rated News Talk station in Southern New England.
Veteran talk host Dan Yorke returns to the Afternoon Drive anchor chair at WPRO, the position held by former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci for over seven years until his untimely passing earlier this year. Yorke previously hosted the 12PM Noon-3PM show on WPRO, and also hosts his own daily television show on myRItv and Fox Providence.
Matt Allen, on air with WPRO since 2000, moves into the 12PM Noon to 3PM slot. Former TV reporter, Buddy Cianci’s producer, and on-air talent Tara Granahan, will now host early evenings from 6PM to 9PM on WPRO. The new WPRO line-up kicks off Monday morning with the News with Gene Valicenti in Morning Drive. Valicenti is also a top-rated anchorman on NBC10 in Providence. Nationally recognized broadcaster John DePetro continues in his 9AM to Noon slot.
John Sutherland, Vice President and Market Manager, Cumulus Media-Providence said: “These are well deserved opportunities for our local team. Keeping the heritage of our News Talk programming live and local on WPRO in Southern New England will continue to be a vital part of our success in the future.“
Yorke said: “Notwithstanding and respecting the loss of an iconic Buddy Cianci, it feels great to be back in the saddle where I spent nine of my 16 years here hosting afternoon drive. I appreciate the confidence the company continues to show in me and I look forward to revisiting our loyal listeners at a later time of day and growing the profits of our incredible sponsors.”
