The future of Central Pennsylvania’s sole NPR member radio station, WPSU-FM 91.5, and its PBS-affiliated television sibling, WPSU-TV (Channel 3), both licensed to Penn State University, has been secured after weeks of uncertainty.
On Monday, the Penn State Board of Trustees unanimously approved the material terms of a proposed asset sale to WHYY, the Wilmington, Del.-based operator of Philadelphia’s leading noncommercial public media stations.
The move ensures continued public media access for approximately 1.5 million residents across 24 counties in Central Pennsylvania while allowing Penn State to refocus on its core educational mission.
The decision follows a turbulent period for WPSU. Just one month earlier, on September 13, 2025, the Penn State Board rejected a prior offer from WHYY that required the university to phase out its $17 million operating subsidy for WPSU over five years. That plan aimed to give WHYY time to restore WPSU’s financial viability without Penn State’s or federal support, but the university deemed the financial burden unsustainable amid broader pressures on higher education.
The rejection raised the specter of WPSU ceasing operations by summer 2026, sparking national attention and concern over the loss of a vital public media hub.
The revised deal, approved Monday, eliminates Penn State’s $17 million subsidy obligation. Instead, WHYY has a 30-day exclusivity period post-vote to secure at least $8.36 million in third-party financing to sustain WPSU’s operations. WHYY must keep Penn State informed of its progress, and any extension of the exclusivity period requires mutual written consent. The agreement awaits approval from WHYY’s Board of Directors and, once finalized, will require FCC regulatory approval after federal government funding resumes.