In a special meeting this afternoon, the Penn State Board of Trustees unanimously approved a transaction that will send the operating assets of WPSU’s public radio and television stations to WHYY, a public media provider in the greater Philadelphia area. 

This vote comes just over a month after the Board of Trustees unanimously denied a sale of WPSU to WHYY that would have had Penn State pay a $17 million subsidy. Under the new plan, WHYY now enters a 30-day “Exclusivity Period” to secure $8.36 million in funding. 

According to a Penn State news release, WHYY has agreed to operate WPSU for at least three years following the sale. The sale is expected to be completed by WPSU’s previously expected closure date, June 30, 2026, pending a vote by WHYY’s board of directors. 

“We know what WPSU means to its listeners and viewers and the vital role public radio and television plays in Central Pennsylvania,” Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer, said in the Penn State release. “So, we continued to explore opportunities with WHYY with the goal of keeping WPSU operational while reducing the University’s financial commitment to the station. At times financial negotiations can necessitate multiple rounds of negotiation. I’m thrilled we were able to bring this agreement to this promising point.”

The new transaction is a positive development for the State College community, much of which was outraged by the original decision to close its public media provider. WPSU thanked the community for its support, as well as the Penn State Board of Trustees, in a statement on Facebook celebrating the decision. This plan enables central Pennsylvania to continue receiving local news coverage and cultural programming for the foreseeable future.