Precedent that must be applied or followed is known as binding precedent (alternately mandatory precedent, mandatory or binding authority, etc.). Under the doctrine of stare decisis, a lower court must honor findings of law made by a higher court that is within the appeals path of cases the court hears.
Update at 9:55 a.m. ET. 'Talk' To Go Off The Air At The End Of July; Decision Came After Discussions With Stations: The New York Times adds that the plan is the product of discussions that began more than two years ago between NPR and some of its biggest member stations.
A show like Speak For Yourself is in a tough position of trying to be something different from the other debate shows that are already on the air, yet not straying too far from a successful formula. The debut episode surely seemed familiar, maybe a bit too familiar to viewers.