The future for Central Pennsylvania’s lone NPR member radio station and its PBS-aligned TV station sibling is now clearer, ending weeks of uncertainty for the facilities licensed to Penn State University.
The stations are en route to being sold, and Philadelphia’s leading educational noncommercial entity has come to the rescue.
In an announcement released Monday by the home of the Nittany Lions, the Penn State Board of Trustees today unanimously approved the material terms of a proposed transaction to sell the operating assets of WPSU-TV, on Channel 3, and WPSU-FM 91.5 in State College, Pa.
The buyer is WHYY, the Wilmington, Del.-licensed parent of TV and radio stations using those call letters that serves the Philadelphia DMA.
“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,” Penn State said in a statement.
To be clear, the board’s decision opens the door for Penn State to negotiate and execute asset sale agreements with WHYY. Furthermore, that organization’s Board of Directors also must vote on the proposed acquisition before the APA is finalized and submitted to the FCC for its regulatory approval, once the federal government is again funded and reopens.
The vote, interestingly, came one month after the board voted down a preior offer to sell WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM to WHYY. That plan called for Penn State 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. The university explained that decision meant WPSU would cease operations by Summer 2026.
The possible cessation of WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM gained national attention, as Penn State 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,” the university said.
Under the new proposed transaction approved by the board, Penn State 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 Penn State 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,” said Sara Thorndike, Penn State University’s Senior VP for Finance and Business/Treasurer. “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.
Student-run WKPS-FM 90.7, a small Class A facility owned by Penn State University, is not involved in the WHYY transaction.
