WPSU survived a closure plan in 2025, but community support vital amid transition
After some uncertainty, WPSU will live on through an asset sale to another public media organization in Philadelphia — but the station still needs the community’s support.
After previously rejecting a proposal to sell WPSU’s operating assets to WHYY and facing heavy public backlash, the Penn State board of trustees unanimously approved a revised proposal to do so this fall. If the board hadn’t changed course, the PBS and NPR Member station and a service of Penn State Outreach was slated to close no later than June 30, 2026.
A major reason the board originally didn’t approve the deal was because the agreement included Penn State subsidizing the post-closing operations of WPSU over the next five years, amounting to about $17 million.
With the revised agreement, WHYY agreed to fundraise for that amount needed over five years.
Greg Petersen, a WPSU board member, said the transition work is “on track,” and he’s encouraged by the progress made.
“There is a lot to be hammered out in the transition agreement and work has already started. I believe that the goal of the end of the current fiscal year (June 30, 2026) for completion is achievable,” he wrote in an email.
Although WPSU’s assets will be sold and transferred to WHYY, the station still needs to operate every day. The continued support of WPSU during the transition is vital.
The donations and pledges that lead to a positive balance sheet will go a long way to keep WPSU viable, Petersen said.
People can donate to WPSU directly to support the ongoing operations online at wpsu.org/donate/, via phone at 1-800-245-9779 or by checks made payable to The Pennsylvania State University and note WPSU-TV or WPSU-FM on the memo line. The donations can be mailed to WPSU Membership, 223 Outreach Building, University Park, PA 16802.
“Giving to WPSU will directly support ongoing operations and position WPSU in the very best way to transfer operations to WHYY once the FCC approves the transfer of the operating license,” Petersen said.
Local donors also worked with the Centre Foundation — an organization that supports donors and nonprofits by managing funds and providing grants, training and support — to create the Public Media for Northern and Central Pennsylvania Fund. This will support WHYY’s fundraising efforts to acquire WPSU and ensure its sustainability.
Once the agreement was finalized, Petersen said there was a collective sigh of relief that public media would remain for the area. But there was also some confusion about donations, which made some hesitate to donate. For example, he said it was clear many did not want their donations going to Penn State, and there was a rumor that the university took 40% of all pledges to WPSU. But that was never the case.
“In our first on-air drive after the announcement — which was a radio drive — we made it clear that a donation to WPSU stays with WPSU — all of it. The result was a drive that raised over $160K from over 900 contributors. That set new records for a radio drive. And, it was a five and one-half day drive, not the normal seven,” he said.
He also emphasized that this isn’t a “takeover.” Rather, it’s a commitment to preservation. Members of the board of trustees were previously concerned that current WPSU employees may not be hired by WHYY. In the terms of the approved agreement, WHYY agreed to interview any WPSU employee who is interested in being interviewed. If they are qualified for the jobs WHYY has determined are needed, they will be hired into those positions if they want to move to WHYY.
“WHYY is working closely with Penn State and the WPSU team to keep local programming, trusted voices, and community connections strong. The goal is simple: to keep WPSU vibrant, local, and on the air,” Petersen said.
