‘Freethought Matters’ goes national
The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s new weekly TV show, “Freethought Matters,” begins airing in September in eight major cities, plus Madison, Wis., covering more than 22 percent of the United States TV market. The show will begin airing Sunday, Sept. 2, for 26 weeks, including in four of the top 10 markets.
As an antidote to religion on the airwaves and Sunday morning sermonizing, the half-hour talk show will air Sunday mornings in eight cities.
“You can turn on the TV and be preached at 24/7, especially on Sunday mornings. We not only want to provide sympathetic programming for the ‘unmassed masses,’ but offer an alternative, so that religious programming does not win by default,” says Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president and co-host.
The intent is to introduce communities to leading freethought authors, thinkers and activists in a non-threatening and positive way, adds FFRF co-president and co-host Dan Barker.
In addition to airing in Madison, Wis., at 11 p.m. Sundays on WISC-TV 3 (the CBS affiliate), “Freethought Matters” will air in:
• Chicago, WPWR-CW (Ch. 50), Sundays at 9 a.m.
• Los Angeles, KCOP-MY (Ch. 13), Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
• New York City, WPIX-IND (Ch. 11), Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
• Phoenix, KASW-CW (Ch. 61), Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
• Portland, KRCW-CW (Ch. 32), Sundays at 9 a.m.
• Sacramento, KQCA-MY (Ch. 58), Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
• Seattle, KONG-IND (Ch. 16). Sundays at 8 a.m.
• Washington, DC, WDCW-CW (Ch. 50, digital 15), Sundays at 8 a.m.
In September, look for these well-known guests in the above eight new markets: comedian and actress Julia Sweeney; Harvard Professor Steven Pinker, FFRF’s honorary president — whose latest book is Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress; science communicator and journalist Cara Santa Maria — who appears on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “StarTalk,” and biologist Jerry Coyne, author of Why Evolution Is True.
“Freethought Matters” is typically co-hosted by Barker and Gaylor, with occasional guest-hosting by other staff. The show is produced by FFRF’s videographer Bruce Johnson, a veteran of many years in public television. Crew includes staff members Monica Schwartz, Kristina Daleiden, Lauryn Seering and Chris Line, plus various floor managers, with sound production provided by Audio for the Arts.
Following a 13-show debut in Madison on WISC-TV 3 this spring, “Freethought Matters” will begin airing an all-new season of guests on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 11 p.m.
Please tune in to “Freethought Matters” . . . because freethought matters.
