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UNIVERSITY PARK -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the transfer of WPSU to WHYY, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for a transaction designed to secure the future of public media in northern and central Pennsylvania. After the transaction closes, WHYY will officially become WPSU's owner and operator.
The FCC's action affirms a path forward that will allow WPSU to continue serving audiences throughout northern and central Pennsylvania while building on its longstanding legacy of public service.
For more than 70 years, WPSU has informed, educated and connected communities through trusted journalism, educational programming, local storytelling and public service. With FCC approval secured, that work will continue under the leadership of WHYY, one of the nation's leading public media organizations.
"The FCC's approval brings welcome clarity about the future of public media in our region," said Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach. "For generations, WPSU has been a trusted presence in the lives of people across northern and central Pennsylvania. This decision ensures that service will continue under WHYY's leadership and creates new opportunities to serve communities for years to come. I want to thank our colleagues at WHYY for their partnership throughout this process, the WPSU staff for their professionalism and dedication and the viewers, listeners, donors and community supporters who have stood by WPSU for generations. Because of their commitment, this service will continue to inform, educate and connect communities across our region."
"This is an extraordinarily important moment for public media and, most importantly, for the people and communities WPSU serves," said Bill Marrazzo, WHYY president and CEO. "From the beginning, our goal has been to ensure that central and northern Pennsylvania continues to have a strong, independent and noncommercial public media voice. WPSU will remain WPSU: locally focused, responsive to the communities it serves and dedicated to telling the stories of central and northern Pennsylvania."
The transaction follows months of collaboration between Penn State and WHYY to develop a long-term path forward for public media service in the region.
Penn State and WHYY will continue working together through the transition period to ensure continuity for audiences and community partners. Upon closing, WHYY will assume ownership and operation of WPSU's television and radio stations, which will retain their call signs.