As part of CBC Radio’s fall schedule announcement, Spark got some great news today: we’re moving to a terrific new timeslot — Sunday afternoons at 1:00pm, right after the Vinyl Cafe.
Even more exciting is that Spark will double in length. Yes, that’s right… starting September 13, 2009, Spark will be a regular hour-long weekly program.
We’re really looking forward to figuring out what an hour-long Spark will sound like, and we’re really happy that we’re able to continue making the show with you each and every week. Please leave a comment and let us know what you’d like to hear in our new, expanded form.
OH YEAH! this is AWESOME! A whole of HOUR of goodness! That ROCKS, period!
That's great news! I'm looking forward to more of my favorite podcast.
I am an ESL instructor at UBC where I meet young people from many countries of the world. I would be interested in how people are using search engines, blogs and social media differently than we do, especially as this pertains to language. Your podcast #32 on Tuangou was very interesting.
as an enhanced pod-cast listener, I have to say the hour long show will be awesome — there's still lots of goodness in those interviews you post that (no doubt) have to be trimmed to fit the current slot.
Excellent news!
Who could complain about more sparky goodness? Whahoo!
Awesome news you guys. No surprise
Yay. I'll guess we'll see more uncut interviews this way too.
Whoops, that wasn't clear. I meant more uncut interviews in the podcast stream, since there will likely be more edited interviews in the show. Having edited interviews in the show itself is still the best way to go.
Agreed. Some interviews has multiple interesting points but got trimmed into short versions in order to fit the 30 mins limit, which often makes them sounds incomplete.
Congrats!
Where can we find CBC Radio’s fall schedule announcement? (Sunday 1pm is currently when Cross-Country Checkup starts in the Pacific time zone, so I'm wondering what's happened to that show.)
Hi Michael,
Cross Country checkup will be in its regular spot; other Sunday shows, like Writers and Co., and now Spark, stagger their start time. So for us, 1pm start, but not in the pacific time zone.
I assume they'll post more info about the sked at cbc.ca soon.
The full schedule isn't up yet, but here's more on the changes: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2009/05/14/cbc…
Great news!! Congrats y'all for your wonderful work!
Since I have the Enhanced Podcast subscribed, I don't mind shortened interviews. In fact, I prefer them. Instead of having full interviews, I would prefer more topics or more opinions on a topic in regular episodes.
Thanks for the feedback, Faraz!
Congrats Nora — almost back to where you started on Brand X, no?
As for what the new, longer Spark might include, how about a tip of the hat to one of the neatest CBC shows that got the axe: Out Front.
Some sort of collaborative-media type part of the show where listeners submit a proposal for a short segment in their own communities / lives. The best ones get produced. Maybe even guided by a theme of the week, like the shout-outs that you do already.
Just my $0.02. I'm just glad that there's going to be more Spark. Again, congrats on a fantastic show getting the recognition it deserves!
Fantastic news…however I must admit I hardly get to catch the live show…regardless of timeslot. Sunday is far better!
Chalk it up to too much gadgetry and much time spent with the kids.
I NEVER miss the podcasts. In fact my wife and I listen to them over and over as research. You have a fantastic program – bar none.
In deference to the lurkers…I'm certain if everyone who listened to the show posted a comment there'd be far too much to parse.
Cheers!
This is wonderful news!!! One whole hour and @ 1pm Sunday! I'm looking forward to it. I listen on podcast every week but I will definitely listen every Sunday after church and after Stewart. .. cheers, Barb Binns
Thanks, Barb! I'm hugely excited about the Sunday time slot. I think Spark can fit really nicely in there.
This is really cool, Spark is one my favourite CBC Radio programs and the new timeslot will work out nicely.
great! but what about wiretap, my other favorite CBC show?
According to a cbc.ca story, it's moving to Saturday afternoons, before DNTO.
I think what you're already doing is superb, and I'd just like to see more of the same. Perhaps you could go a bit more in depth on some of the interviews (there's so much more content to be mined than what currently makes it into the show), but in general I agree that the current format of edited interviews is good for the flow of the show.
This certainly is great news. The timeslot is best for shows of this type, so more people will be available to listen (when not at work).
I give CBC credit for one thing: at least when they cut back, they did NOT cut back where it matters the most, and I see shows about technology as being rather important.
In Chicago, we had a call-in show that was broadcast on Saturdays. The original program was three hours in length, but our local talk station presented only one hour of THAT. Another talk station had a segment covering technology on Thursdays, at 2:00 AM CST (yes, when most people are asleep).
As for the content, I am picturing a cross between "A Prairie Home Companion" and the LUGRADIO.org podcast (a lot cleaner than the latter, of course). The LUGRADIO would be the format, and the "Prairie Home Companion" for the environment.
"A Prairie Home Companion" has been on the air for more than 30 years, so they must be doing something right.
"I give CBC credit for one thing: at least when they cut back, they did NOT cut back where it matters the most, and I see shows about technology as being rather important."
I see technology shows as important too, which is why it's too bad that CBC cancelled Search Engine, another excellent (and very popular) show about technology. It's now available as a podcast from TVO.
Whoa! That's going waaayyy back. I can't believe you remember Brand X. Oh, how I loved that weirdo, wonderful show. Actually, you're right. I was doing tech stories there, too….so it's taken me 15 years to get back to where I started…ha!
Thanks for the suggestion, too. We're planning on doing some development/workshopping sessions right after the last episode of this season, so we'll be discussing them then. cheers!
Congratulations Spark! You definitely deserve it. That whole hour of Spark goodness will make Saturday cleaning SO much more enjoyable. Can't wait.
Like others here have said, I rarely listen to Spark on the air, that's why I love the podcast version so much. Please tell me it will continue to represent the whole show, and not just "highlights"!
It's our full intention to continue posting the show, in its entirety, as a podcast.
Nice! I really enjoy listening to Spark on CBC Radio. That new time slot is even better for me. I like spending Sunday in a coffee shop, so I will be able to listen to Spark while enjoying my coffee on a patio this summer:)
And this is true, we probably will get to hear more uncut interviews.
congratulations!!! I look forward to Sept., do more of the same. You're so creative, I can imagine all kinds of innovative things from you.
Hey great news,
Expanded length – expanded coverage. I hope you can theme major tech perspectives like copyright, nanotech and open source, which are of particular interest to me.
This is great news here! I love listening to the Spark radio, and this new time slot is even better! It's one of my favourite CBC radio programs.