On Point with Tom Ashbrook Announces National Tour

“Listening to America” takes WBUR & NPR show on the road

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–WBUR,
Boston’s NPR news station, is thrilled to announce that On Point with
Tom Ashbrook will launch a national tour “Listening to America” in
2017. Host Tom Ashbrook will broadcast from a variety of stations across
the country in markets coast to coast and north to south. The tour kicks
off early next year and will include Charlotte, North Carolina,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Spokane, Washington, among others.

“Our country is divided and, post-election, we’ve simply got to talk
things out,” said host Tom Ashbrook. “Every day on the show, we draw
passionate listeners and live callers from across all ages and political
categories. This first-ever national tour is a major initiative to do
one thing: listen. To probe. To navigate the ground between left and
right and look for what unites us all.”

On Point is a daily two-hour live program born in the aftermath
of NPR’s 9/11 special coverage. As a veteran journalist, Ashbrook is
known for his genuine curiosity, a deep understanding of what’s going on
in the world, and a mental agility that allows him to speak eloquently
on a range of topics. He’s had a remarkable journey from his childhood
spent on a farm in Bloomington, Illinois, to his formative years at Yale
and abroad in India, and then on to a career punctuated by years living
in Asia and working for The Boston Globe.

Ashbrook’s omnipresent inquisitiveness on behalf of listeners resonates
with NPR audiences, who can be part of the discussion and hear differing
perspectives from across the country in a respectful setting. On Point,
carried by more than 250 NPR stations, is one of the fastest-growing
programs on the air with the number of listeners nationwide tuning in at
any given 15 minutes of a show (or AQH) up 95%* and weekly cume up 74%*
over the last five years.

“NPR’s mission is to work with member stations to create a more informed
public, and taking On Point on the road is a great way
to accomplish this,” said NPR CEO Jarl Mohn. “With Tom Ashbrook’s
signature blend of engaging interviews and lively discussion, this tour
will bring even more local voices into the important national
conversations that take place in On Point every day.”

“Listening to America” marks the show’s first national tour. However, On
Point has broadcast from other cities over its 15 years on the air
including Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver, Minneapolis, Nashville, New
Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, St. Paul, Santa Barbara, Tampa and
Shanghai, China.

“Post-election, the country is struggling to come together and there’s
no better voice to help tackle these issues than Tom Ashbrook,” says
WBUR general manager Charlie Kravetz. “When it’s this important, where
else would you turn besides On Point?”

*Source: ACT 1 based on Nielsen Audio Nationwide, Spring 2011- Spring
2016, Persons 12+

© 2016 The Nielsen Company. May not be quoted or reproduced without the
prior written permission of Nielsen.

Contacts

WBUR
Kristen Holgerson, 617-358-2011
kholgers@bu.edu
or
Greenough
Karen
Laverty, 617-275-6516
klaverty@greenough.biz