Central Florida PBS viewers have a front-row seat for discussions with Gov. Rick Scott, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other area “movers and shakers” in WUCF TV’s first locally produced public affairs show debuting this month.

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 show kicked off with a special episode featuring Gov. Rick Scott, filmed on location during last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando. The special premiered on WUCF TV at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, and it will re-air at 11:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16; 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16; and 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.

The entire show with Gov. Scott also is available online.

During the interview, Scott talks with Trees about Florida’s projected $3 billion budget deficit and high unemployment.

“I don’t want to create programs that don’t fit for Florida,” Scott says.

“You have to choose the things that are good for Florida,” he adds. “Some things politically, people don’t like, but it’s the right thing for the state.”

Metro Center Outlook settles into its permanent home at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Oct. 26. It will re-air on Thursdays at 9 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Read more about WUCF TV’s new fall lineup here.

Additional guests for the first season include businessman and community leader Rick Walsh; Lake Nona Medical City advocate Rasesh Thakkar; and Paul Tash, chairman and CEO of the Times Publishing Co. in St. Petersburg.

“Metro Center Outlook will take a thoughtful look at issues important to our viewers, region and state,” Trees said. “Our goal is to present multiple sides of a story so that viewers can make up their own mind.”

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 University of Central Florida 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 http://wucftv.org.