PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Federal Communications Commission approved the transfer of WPSU’s broadcast licenses from Penn State University to WHYY, clearing the principal regulatory hurdle for a transaction that would shift public television and radio service for about 1.5 million central and northern Pennsylvania residents to WHYY.
WHYY and Penn State will now work through the remaining requirements needed to complete the transaction. The organizations previously entered agreements covering WHYY’s acquisition of WPSU’s operating assets, contingent on FCC approval and customary closing requirements.
Once the transaction closes, WHYY will operate WPSU’s television and radio stations while retaining the WPSU name and call letters.
The arrangement follows nearly two years of planning between WHYY and Penn State and is structured to maintain WPSU’s local programming and operations serving central and northern Pennsylvania.
“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,” WHYY President and CEO Bill Marrazzo stated. “The FCC’s approval brings us significantly closer to making that commitment permanent.”
WPSU has served the region for more than 70 years, providing local journalism, educational programming, cultural coverage and community programming.
WHYY plans to combine WPSU’s regional operations and community relationships with its existing public-media infrastructure. WHYY has served audiences in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware for more than 70 years.
“WPSU will remain WPSU: locally focused, responsive to the communities it serves and dedicated to telling the stories of central and northern Pennsylvania,” Marrazzo stated.
Penn State Vice President for Outreach Larry Terry characterized the FCC decision as providing greater certainty about WPSU’s future.
“For generations, WPSU has been a trusted presence in the lives of people across northern and central Pennsylvania,” Terry stated. “This decision ensures that service will continue under WHYY’s leadership and creates new opportunities to serve communities for years to come.”
WHYY and Penn State will provide additional information about the closing and transition of WPSU operations as those steps occur.
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