Ocean State Media, the parent organization of public news/talk station The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS, has announced its acquisition of sports-formatted 103.7 WEEI (WVEI-FM, licensed to Westerly/Providence) from media company Audacy.
The deal will enable Ocean State Media to consolidate its Rhode Island radio coverage onto a single, powerful FM signal. Currently, The Public’s Radio broadcasts across a fragmented network of frequencies—including 89.3 WNPN (Newport), 89.5 WNPW (Westerly), 90.7 WNPH (Portsmouth), 102.7 WNPE (Narragansett Pier), and 1290 WPVD/102.9 W275DA (Providence)—requiring listeners to retune as they travel.
WVEI-FM’s signal covers Rhode Island and reaches into southeastern Massachusetts.
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| WVEI 93.7 FM (37 Kw) |
WVEI-FM has simulcast Boston’s 93.7 WEEI-FM (Audacy’s flagship sports station) since 2004, serving as Audacy’s sole station in the Providence market.
Following the acquisition—pending regulatory approvals and closing—the station will transition to carrying Ocean State Media’s public radio programming, focused on local news, information, and community service.
Ocean State Media President and CEO Pam Johnston stated: “With this move, listeners will no longer need to change channels to continue hearing Ocean State Media as they travel throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Once approved, audiences can tune to a single frequency for a clear, high-quality broadcast, advancing our commitment to delivering distinctly local news and information more effectively and efficiently across the region.”
The acquisition represents a $4.9 million investment for Ocean State Media, financed over time. Financial terms of the sale to Audacy were not disclosed. The organization, formed from the 2024 merger of Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio (rebranded as Ocean State Media in October 2025), aims to strengthen its role as a key provider of non-commercial public media in the state.