Penn State University plans to shut down its NPR and PBS-affiliated public broadcasting station, WPSU, by June 30, 2026, after the university’s Board of Trustees Finance and Investment Committee unanimously rejected a proposal to transfer ownership to WHYY, a Philadelphia-based public media organization. The decision, made on September 11, 2025, follows financial pressures and funding cuts that have made continued operation unsustainable.
Key Details:
- Proposed Transfer: The rejected plan would have transferred WPSU’s radio, television, and digital assets, including broadcast licenses covering 24 counties for TV and 13 for radio, to WHYY for $1, with Penn State providing a $17 million subsidy over five years and leasing WPSU’s Innovation Park office. The deal required FCC approval and aimed to sustain public broadcasting in central Pennsylvania.
- Financial Context: WPSU relied on a $3.4 million annual subsidy from Penn State and $1.8 million in federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2024, which was cut to zero in 2025 due to congressional budget decisions. These cuts, combined with a 25% budget reduction, led to layoffs in June 2025 and made long-term subsidies from tuition revenue unfeasible.
- Board’s Rationale: Trustees cited financial challenges in education and public media, including rising costs, inflation, demographic declines, and stagnant state funding. They deemed the $17 million subsidy too costly, especially as Penn State focuses on keeping tuition affordable. Board Chair David Kleppinger called it a “difficult decision,” acknowledging WPSU’s 60-year legacy but prioritizing the university’s core academic mission.
- Impact on Staff and Community: WPSU employs 44 staff members, and layoffs are expected as part of the wind-down. The station serves 515,000 TV households and 450,000 radio listeners in central and northern Pennsylvania, providing local news, educational content like “Sesame Street,” and cultural programs like “Our Town.” The closure raises concerns about the loss of trusted local media and emergency alerts in rural areas.
- WHYY’s Perspective: WHYY CEO Bill Marrazzo called the decision “a shame,” noting that talks with Penn State began in spring 2024 to preserve WPSU’s services. The failure to transfer ownership leaves the future of NPR and PBS programming in the region uncertain.
