Hosted by Diane Trees, director of the Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies at UCF, Metro Center Outlook explores issues impacting Florida’s economic prosperity and development.

The new season will kick off with a two-part interview with Graham to air consecutive weeks.

Graham will discuss his novel, “Keys to the Kingdom,� and war in the Middle East during the first show, which will premiere Jan. 18.

The second part of the interview focuses on homeland security and terrorism. That episode will broadcast at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Metro Center Outlook will re-air on Thursdays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Additional guests on this season’s Metro Center Outlook include former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, UCF President John C. Hitt and PBS NewsHour host Judy Woodruff.

Trees’ Metro Center, in partnership with other institutions and organizations, was established in 2001 to serve as a link between UCF and the community in a regional approach that encompasses 13 Central Florida counties. It was founded by former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin.

WUCF TV is a partnership between the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Brevard Community College, created to keep PBS in Central Florida. The station launched July 1 for more than 3.5 million viewers with the promise of providing the community PBS favorites and high-quality local programs.

WUCF TV airs on Bright House Networks digital cable channels 1 and 1001 in Orange, Brevard, Seminole, Osceola, Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

For more on where to find and what to see on WUCF TV, go to .

Woodruff spoke at a President’s Focus on Excellence breakfast in downtown Orlando and also visited the Center for Emerging Media.

In a post on PBS’ “Rundown� blog, Woodruff called UCF a “stunning success story.�

“With a philosophy that encourages entrepreneurship, UCF has helped students launch their own businesses immediately upon graduation, as well as partnered with industries to find jobs,â€� she wrote. “Its president, Dr. John Hitt, believes in taking risks when he thinks they’re warranted: ‘I hire smart people and let them come to me with their ideas,’ he said. His decision to aim for state approval to launch the medical center and to take over a public television … operation — with very little turnaround time or funding — are just two examples.â€�

Woodruff also noted some of the challenges that the university faces, including state budget cuts for UCF and public television.

“But meeting the leaders at this extraordinary school and seeing their “can-do” spirit up close gives one hope that not only will things eventually turn around, but that young people are developing the skills to see them through.â€�

WUCF TV, a partnership between UCF and Brevard Community College, broadcasts popular PBS programs and high-quality local shows to more than 3.5 million viewers. The station began broadcasting on July 1, just three months after WMFE announced it was ending its affiliation with PBS.

“I’m very proud to say this community did not miss one second of PBS programming during the transition,� Grant J. Heston, UCF’s associate vice president for Communications and Public Affairs, said at the Focus on Excellence breakfast last week.

Popular PBS Kids programming includes seven literacy series and 11 series on science, technology, engineering and math. Local shows that have premiered this fall include Metro Center Outlook with Diane Trees and Global Perspectives with Pulitzer Prize-winner John Bersia.

The channel — the primary PBS channel for nine Central Florida counties – is seeking to raise $1 million in community support this year.

Hitt encouraged viewers to share feedback about programming with WUCF TV. He also urged the community to consider investing in the station.

“I intentionally use the word ‘investing’ because this is not a gift or a donation,� he said. “Your investment makes it possible for everyone to enjoy all of what we love most about PBS.�

To share feedback or invest in WUCF TV, go to .