Michael Feldman during a recent Whad’Ya Know? taping at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wis. (Photo: WPR/J.Gill)
The longtime public radio talk and quiz show Whad’Ya Know? will end production after 31 years, Wisconsin Public Radio and show creator Michael Feldman announced Thursday.
The live two-hour program will end production June 30.
“Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know has been a very successful program here in Wisconsin and nationally and we’re incredibly proud of the program, but listener habits and the interests of stations have changed over the 31 years that we’ve broadcast and distributed the show,” Michael Arnold, associate director and director of content at WPR, told Current in an email.
The show’s carriage peaked in 2003 at 322 stations, and it reached 1.5 million weekly listeners at that time. But carriage had since dropped substantially, to 106 stations and a weekly audience of 321,000 as of spring 2015.
“Despite these changes, the decision has been very difficult to make,” Arnold added. “Michael Feldman is a true talent, and the show’s had an incredible run. Not many programs can say they’ve been on the air for 31 years, and Michael has had a huge influence on public radio’s sound and attitude.”
After weekly production ends, archived episodes will be available on the show’s website.
“It may be called Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know?, but it really has been Everybody Who Listens And Comes To The Shows’s Whad’Ya Know?” Feldman said in a press release. “It’s the listeners at home and those who show up that make the show — I am just a conduit. I will be forever grateful to everybody — and their kids! — who made the show so much a part of their lives and of mine. Thank you so much!”
Upcoming live shows will proceed as scheduled. WPR “remains committed to weekend entertainment programming” and will announce a local replacement for the program “at a later date,” according to the press release.
Jim Packard will surely be missed.
To his friends and family he appeared to be your Diamond, I for one Miss Jim already, a pleasure to have had a glimmer but a short time of his life. Thanks you all!!
Only two shows left to listen to since What Do Ya Know has gone. Sad that all new shows have to have a political agenda and not just plan old fun for a break in station programming. Also people could call in. Now regulated shows with chosen participant.
Jean, it’s been some years since I’ve listened to any Public Radio program but I do remember Whad’Ya Know? in its heyday and that memory is so precious. I was even in Madison in early July of ’94 but I couldn’t retool my schedule to catch the live presentation which has irritated me somewhat over the decades. Best wishes to you.
Jean, it’s been some years since I’ve listened to any Public Radio program but I do remember Whad’Ya Know? in its heyday and that memory is so precious. I was even in Madison in early July of ’94 but I couldn’t retool my schedule to catch the live presentation which has irritated me somewhat over the decades. Best wishes to you.