Today (Jan. 28) marks the debut of two significant and popular public radio programs — Marketplace and The World — to the program lineup of KUT.

Marketplace is a high-energy program on world business and finance. One of public radio’s most popular programs, Marketplace puts a human face on the economy and illuminates the ways national and international business and finance relate to listeners’ daily lives.

The program includes up-to-the-minute financial information, as well as business analysis — and promises to put it all into context (weekdays, 6:30–7 p.m.).

The World is international news for the American audience. The World has a multinational team of producers, reporters and editors around the globe who bring depth and perspective to the program. The result is an award-winning hour of breaking news, in-depth features, hard-hitting commentaries and thought-provoking interviews (weekdays, 7-8 p.m.).

J. Stewart Vanderwilt, director and general manager of KUT, said, "Central Texas — and the world — have changed dramatically over the past year. These changes have compelled us at KUT to look at opportunities that we believe will better serve our listeners on several fronts. Marketplace and The World successfully address the two most relevant issues of our time — the economy and world affairs. We are very excited about these additions to the KUT schedule."

These additions require that several of KUT’s programs will change times and/or days.

Fresh Air will now begin at 3 p.m. on weekdays. Car Talk is moving to Saturday mornings at 9 — where it resides on most public radio stations around the country and where it reaches a larger audience.

Many of KUT’s best local personalities — including John Aielli, Paul Ray, Larry Monroe, Jay Trachtenberg, among others — will continue to be heard at their regular, or similar, times.

Vanderwilt said, "We know change can be difficult, and the new schedule means change for many of our loyal listeners. But we believe in the long run our listeners will be pleased with, and better served by, this new schedule. "

Vanderwilt added: "KUT’s commitment is stronger than ever to preserving and enhancing the cultural sound and soul of Central Texas with an expanded focus on bringing our listeners the highest quality news, music and information from around the corner and around the world.

"We strive to provide significant programming for significant audiences, to share and deliver the values people expect from public radio."