NPR to Roll Forward With Classic Rock Format

National Public Radio broadcasting (NPR), after a hastily convened board meeting Sunday night, announced plans today via a prepared statement to abandon its disgraced news broadcasting operations and switch to an all-music format centered on "classic rock of the 70's, 80's, and 90's."

After outcry over liberal bias in NPR's programming from the Bush Administration and calls for more music programming from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the move is expected to heal the rift between NPR and CPB. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides only 1% of NPR's funding, but contributes a significant percentage of NPR affiliate station budgets.

"The board of NPR is bound to respect the needs of our benefactors and the public," said a statement by Kevin Klose, NPR President. "If the nation's listeners want music, it's our obligation to provide it." The statement puzzled industry observers, who noted that Klose had as recently as last week issued statements objecting to any change in NPR's content.

Gay Hart Gaines, a member of CPB's board and a proponent of increased music programming, expressed satisfaction with the decision to reporters.

Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, issued a brief statement expressing a desire to move forward from the bias controversy. The statement concluded, "We are pleased that past differences are now amicably resolved, and look forward to many more years of a healthy relationship between our two institutions."

Mr. Klose and other NPR board members could not be reached for further comment. A call to Mr. Klose's private phone number reached an automated message stating that the line had been disconnected.