April 7 is a key day in the careers of two prominent local broadcasters.

Ron Zappolo begins a stint as host of a new local public affairs show (billed as "cutting edge") on Fox31 while Peter Boyles premieres a weekly radio show on KHOW-AM (630) dealing with motorcycling, his longtime personal passion. Initially, Clear Channel Radio was planning to air the series on KRZN-AM (760).

Zappolo will front Colorado 2031, a weekly Saturday half-hour (5:30 p.m.), designed to provide an in-depth look at major local issues of the day, according to Fox31 news director Brad Remington.

The overall theme will be "tackling today's issues that impact Colorado's tomorrow."

Zappolo, co-anchor of the station's weeknight newscast since the station went on the air in June 2000, is the obvious choice for the station's first major public affairs series.

Zappolo began his Denver TV career as sports director/anchor at CBS 4 before moving to 9News where he produced a regular, forceful commentary segment during the sportscasts.

"Major-name guests will drive the show," Zappolo said. "We won't back down from any controversial issues."

Anyone who has listened to Boyles on his high-rated KHOW radio show knows of his unrequited passion for motorcycles. Boyles is leaving as host of two public affairs programs on KBDI-Channel 12 to begin hosting a new weekly two-hour radio show on motorcycling.

"I feel the time is right for such a national show," says Boyles, pointing to the popularity of TV programming and cycling magazines.

His live show, featuring guests and call-ins, will be aired 10 a.m. to noon.

The ultimate aim is for the local show to go national - certainly a possibility since the Jones Radio Network, which syndicates several personalities, including progressive talker Ed Shultz - is producing it.

Boyles' final appearances on Colorado Inside Out Live and Colorado Inside Out will be March 28 and 30.

"Giving up the two Channel 12 shows was a difficult decision," says Boyles. "They've been part of my professional and emotional makeup.

"But the radio show will take a lot of planning and production time. I didn't want to shortchange Channel 12."

Boyles has hosted Colorado Inside Out, the Friday night half-hour, since 1992 when the series began its second season. He has served as host of CIO Live since its inception in 1998.

Both shows will continue with new hosts, to be named in the near future, according to producer Heather Domko.

While Boyles draws a lot of pro and con commentary on his KHOW radio show (which he's continuing) his work on Channel 12 has been excellent, particularly the Friday night half-hour where he holds the reins over a diverse, opinionated quartet.

Today's Nostalgia

On March 22, 1977, Bill Moyers anchored an award-winning CBS Reports documentary, The Fire Next Door, which examined a major arson tragedy in the South Bronx.

Planning ahead

ABC's Six Degrees +(8 p.m. Friday) returns to the network lineup with episodes already filmed before the network yanked it off the schedule last fall. For the uninformed, this above-average drama deals with the lives of New Yorkers that intersect at various levels. While the fan mail was positive, the Nielsen ratings were low.

• Rome ends its second and final HBO season at 7 p.m. Sunday. Caesar is dead, brought down by assassins' knives in the Roman forum. I wonder what happens to all those expensive-looking costumes and swords?