In a move that has brought controversy back to Pacifica Radio's WBAI in New York, many programmers are being notified of changes to the schedule that dramatically affect their shows and in some cases have resulted in their termination. We've been notified that "Off The Hook" in all probability will have a new timeslot as early as next week.

Our new slot was originally set to be Wednesday afternoons at 5 pm ET. There now appears to be a possibility of the show airing at 7 pm on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. A final decision will be reached later on Tuesday and will be announced on the June 4 show.

Some programs, including "Nuff Said," a show geared towards the comic book community, have been canceled outright. ("Off The Hook" shared time with "Nuff Said" during the most recent WBAI fundraiser in May.) Ken Gale, producer of "Nuff Said," has taken the matter to the Internet, encouraging his listeners and people involved in comics to contact WBAI Program Director Bernard White to voice their objections. "I've been interviewing people in the comics industry on the radio, usually live, for almost nine years," Gale says. "I've covered every aspect of the field. All eras. All styles. I covered Golden Age, Silver Age, contemporary mainstream, Independent, foreign, underground, comic strips, fanzines, fandom, you-name-it.... As a history of popular culture show, I think comics history reflects the history of average people much more than the history of kings and presidents does and I think I added a good voice and solid information on the subject." He urged people to listen to his last broadcast Tuesday at 10 pm ET and to help try and save the program.

Gale isn't alone in his objections. George Stonefish of the Native American show "Circle of Red Nations," spoke out vehemently on the air Monday night about the unclear and sudden schedule change to his program which has been on the air for more than 15 years. The apparent lack of notification to the show's producers of any change was of particular concern.

Not all producers are unhappy with the time changes that have affected them. But there is widespread concern and fear among the listener community that these changes signal a mainstreaming of the station's sound, which might include more music and less talk. Whatever happens, there is bound to be some interesting - and emotional - radio over WBAI in the near future.

WBAI's signal is streamed right here on the 2600 web page.