UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees today unanimously approved the material terms of a proposed transaction to transfer the operating assets of WPSU public radio and television stations to WHYY, a public media organization based in Greater Philadelphia (licensed out of Wilmington, Delaware), which serves the tri-state region. The trustees action preserves the University’s goal to continue its focus on its core educational mission, while supporting free access to public media for WPSU’s 1.5 million citizens in Central Pennsylvania.
The board’s decision also authorizes the University to negotiate and execute definitive agreements to complete the transaction with WHYY. WHYY’s board of directors also must vote on the proposed acquisition, and it must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission before it is finalized.
The vote comes a month after the board voted down the original offer to sell WPSU to WHYY, which called for the University to annually step down its operating support for WPSU over the next five years, giving WHYY the time to bring WPSU back into the black without the benefit of Penn State and federal support. That decision meant WPSU would cease operations by next summer. Trustees said the University could not take on such a significant financial commitment, especially given other pressures facing higher education. In the revision to the transaction’s terms, WHYY will seek to identify third-party sources to meet that financial obligation.
“We know what WPSU means to its listeners and viewers and the vital role public radio and television plays in Central Pennsylvania,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer. “So, we continued to explore opportunities with WHYY with the goal of keeping WPSU operational while reducing the University’s financial commitment to the station. At times financial negotiations can necessitate multiple rounds of negotiation. I’m thrilled we were able to bring this agreement to this promising point.”
Under the new proposed transaction approved by the board, the University will not have to pay the $17 million subsidy. Instead, WHYY will have a 30-day Exclusivity Period after the vote to seek financing commitments of at least $8.36 million. WHYY must keep the University informed of its progress in securing such financing. Both parties must agree in writing to extend the Exclusivity Period.
“WHYY has been a thoughtful partner,” Thorndike said. “Their leadership has agreed to continue to operate WPSU for at least three years following the sale closing, which is expected to occur by June 30, 2026. All current WPSU employees will have an opportunity to interview for potential roles at the new station. Further, we are very pleased the stations will continue to offer our Bellisario College of Communications students real-world experiences.”
The proposed transaction also calls for the University to assign or grant control to the new entity over all endowments, gifts and pledges restricted to or for the benefit of WPSU to the extent permitted by law and the terms of any applicable agreement.
Since the implementation of the University’s new budget model in 2024 — which is focused on keeping tuition costs as low as possible for Pennsylvania families amid rising costs, inflation, demographic challenges and stagnant state funding — the University and station leadership have been exploring a number of funding models for WPSU. The rescission of federal funding for public media has caused further strain on the stations’ finances.
“We know that WPSU is highly valued by communities throughout Central Pennsylvania, and we have worked diligently to find the best path forward for the station, our people who work there, and certainly all of our WPSU viewers and listeners,” said Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach. “We are grateful that WHYY, one of the country’s leading public media organizations, recognizes the importance of maintaining access to public media for the Central Pennsylvania region and is committed to the continuation of these services in our communities.”
Looking ahead
WHYY leadership has shared that they anticipate building on WPSU’s long history of serving the people of Central Pennsylvania with trusted news, thought-provoking storytelling, and cultural programming.
“Most importantly, we want to assure public media audiences in Central Pennsylvania that WPSU will continue to be here for you,” said Bill Marrazzo, president and CEO of WHYY. “Your stories, your communities, and your voices remain at the heart of this work.”
Marrazzo said he sees many possibilities to build on the rich history of WPSU while continuing to provide the communities WPSU serves with access to the exceptional public media experience on which they rely.
“One of the foundational pillars of public media is the drive to ensure the sustainability of free and universal access to its programming and services for every American citizen,” said Marrazzo. “This is an investment in collaboration. WHYY and WPSU are joining forces to expand what is possible – strengthening local journalism, creating new educational opportunities, and developing innovative ways to deliver the content people value most.”
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