GPB takes over WRAS without schedule release

Georgia Public Broadcasting officially took over Georgia State University’s 88.5/WRAS-FM at 8 a.m. Sunday with an array of news/talk programming.

But without explanation, GPB declined to release its official weekly schedule in advance. It will have control over WRAS’ FM airwaves from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays; from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. GSU students will continue to operate the other time on 88.5. WRAS’ 100,000 watts can reach up to 100 miles outside of downtown Atlanta on the FM dial.

In an interview last month after the initial announcement, GPB President Teya Ryan confirmed that WRAS will air “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” both also heard on 90.1/WABE-FM. WABE-FM, as the station is noting on air, has no affiliation with GPB. Ryan also said WRAS will air a conversational daily news show called “Take Away,” hosted by John Hockenberry.

GPB was originally supposed to launch WRAS programming June 1 but delayed the move a month. It released a preliminary schedule last month that had a few local programs, including a daily news show at 9 a.m. hosted by journalist Celeste Headlee set to debut this fall and a weekend news show helmed by veteran journalist Bill Nigut.

GPB spokeswoman Mandy Wilson earlier this month said there would be “tweaks” to that schedule.