Penn State approves new deal to keep WPSU public media open

A month after voting down an earlier proposal, Penn State University’s board of trustees approved a plan to transfer WPSU-TV and public radio to WHYY in Philadelphia.

The deal means Penn State won’t have to pay an additional $17 million subsidy over the next five years to keep WPSU operating, as it would have been required to in the proposal trustees rejected in September.

Instead, WHYY will have a 30-day “exclusivity period” following its vote to raise funds of at least $8.36 million to keep the station afloat.

Penn State provided about $3.4 million in annual support to WPSU.

When trustees rejected the original deal in September, officials said they could not continue to subsidize WPSU, especially with financial pressures in higher education. That vote meant WPSU would have closed by next summer.

“WHYY has been a thoughtful partner,” said Sara Thorndike, Penn State’s senior vice president for finance and business. “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.”

According to WPSU, the public TV station reaches 515,000 households in 24 counties in central Pennsylvania, and WPSU-FM serves more than 450,000 people in 13 counties in central and northern Pennsylvania.

WHYY’s board of directors has yet to vote on the proposal, and it also requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

WHYY leadership indicated they continue to build on WPSU’s reputation.

“Most importantly, we want to assure public media audiences in central Pennsylvania that WPSU will continue to be here for you,” Bill Marrazzo, president and CEO of WHYY, said in a statement. “Your stories, your communities and your voices remain at the heart of this work.”