Amid Historic Cuts to Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting,
Five Leading Public Media Organizations Unite to Chart Next Era of Innovation and Infrastructure For Public Radio
American Public Media Group, PRX, New York Public Radio, Station Resource Group, and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters Forge Coalition to Ensure Continued Service to Public Radio Stations and their Communities Nationwide
System-Wide Effort Supported through a $57.9 Million Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
September 26, 2025––As the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) winds down, five leading public media organizations across the U.S.––American Public Media Group, PRX, New York Public Radio, Station Resource Group, and the National Federation for Community Broadcasters––have formed a coalition to help local public media stations nationwide evolve for the future and meet the demands of a rapidly changing landscape.
Through a $57.9 million grant from CPB, the coalition has established a new non-profit entity––Public Media Infrastructure (PMI)––to lead an urgent effort to innovate radio and digital distribution systems; create new tools and shared services for revenue generation, data analytics, and audience development; and build new content delivery services and products designed to enable local stations to remain vital sources of local news and programming for their communities. PMI will also be responsible for ensuring the continuity and stability of core system-wide infrastructure and operations during this period of transition—including satellite and emergency alert systems—to ensure that stations continue to operate seamlessly and without interruption.
“This is a truly profound moment for public broadcasting,” said Bill Davis, Principal of the Station Resource Group. “The cuts to federal funding come at an already tumultuous time—two decades into a local news crisis, in a fast-moving and radically disruptive media context that’s altered the audience habits and revenue models that have been successful for local public radio stations. PMI will provide the infrastructure and support that works for both local stations and national producers in the 21st century, ensuring that these valuable community assets will also thrive in the digital age.”
This effort will bolster public radio stations and their shared mission of service to local communities across the country following Congress’s vote to eliminate federal funding for CPB.
The public radio system comprises more than 1,300 stations, which together reach 99% of Americans in every Congressional district in all 50 states and every kind of community: rural and remote, urban and suburban. The five founding organizations of PMI represent the breadth, geographies, and mission of the public media system, ensuring the needs of stations of all sizes, locations, and license types are met. Together, the group shares the technical and operational expertise to deliver on PMI’s mission, including live broadcast and emergency systems, technical operations, broadcast program distribution, digital on-demand audio and podcast distribution, revenue generation, and content innovation. Currently, the founding organizations are collectively responsible for facilitating the successful delivery of thousands of hours of programming per year, and share decades of public media service and innovation.
PMI will announce its leadership team later this year. American Public Media Group, PRX, New York Public Radio, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, and Station Resource Group will continue to operate independently.
PMI intends to work collaboratively with the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) and NPR to ensure the continuity and excellence and stability of core system-wide infrastructure and operations during this period of transition. Stations will operate without interruption.
Statements:
Jean Taylor, President and CEO of American Public Media Group: “APMG is proud to help launch PMI as a collaborative model for innovation in public media distribution. Together, we can create the next generation of infrastructure for a nation-wide network of stations that serve local communities with reliable local news, music, and information.”
Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX: “PRX has long believed in the power of technology to expand access to storytelling. Through PMI, we’re excited to bring proven digital platforms to the entire system, ensuring that stations of all sizes can distribute, monetize, and measure their content across every platform where audiences are listening — also strengthening the connection between communities and trusted journalism.”
LaFontaine Oliver, President & CEO and Executive Chair of NYPR: “As a former chair of the NPR Distribution and Interconnection Committee, I can attest to the central role the Public Radio Satellite System has played for decades. PMI is committed to working collaboratively with NPR and PRSS to ensure continued service to the public radio system while also innovating and adapting to both the rapid changes in technology and the evolving needs of stations everywhere.”
Rima Dael, CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters: “Small, rural, and community stations are the lifeblood of local public service in America. This new interconnection structure ensures that their unique challenges are represented in the future of public media distribution.”
About American Public Media Group
American Public Media Group (APMG) is the largest station-based public radio organization in the U.S., combining multi-regional station operations, national programming creation and distribution and innovative digital, social and mobile services in one organization. APMG’s operations include Minnesota Public Radio® (MPR®), a 45-station network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. MPR and its three regional services –MPR News, YourClassical MPR and The Current –produce programming for radio, digital and live audiences. APMG is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world and reaches nearly 15 million listeners across 1,000 public radio stations nationwide each week. APMG’s national portfolio includes BBC World Service, Marketplace® and the leading classical music programming in the nation, YourClassical. APMG also includes LAist, a four-station network serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Coachella Valley, and the Inland Empire.
About PRX
Celebrating more than 20 years as a nonprofit public media company, PRX works in partnership with leading independent creators, organizations, and stations to bring meaningful audio storytelling into millions of listeners’ lives. PRX is one of the world’s top podcast publishers, public radio distributors, and audio producers, serving as an engine of innovation for public media and podcasting to help shape a vibrant future for creative and journalistic audio. Shows across PRX’s portfolio of broadcast productions, podcast partners, and its Radiotopia podcast network have received recognition from the Peabody Awards, International Documentary Association, National Magazine Awards, and the Pulitzer Prizes. Visit PRX.org for more.
About New York Public Radio
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, New York Public Radio (NYPR) produces innovative, critically acclaimed programming for local and national broadcast, on-demand and live streaming audiences. NYPR’s brands include WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, New Jersey Public Radio, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. The WNYC newsroom and Gothamist produce award-winning local journalism for New York City, New Jersey, and the surrounding region. WQXR, the city’s only all-classical radio station, broadcasts new and archival classical recordings and makes live performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues available to all. WNYC Studios is a premier producer of on-demand and national broadcast audio, and home to some of the industry’s most impactful award-winning podcasts and national radio shows, including Radiolab, On the Media, and The New Yorker Radio Hour, among others. The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is NYPR’s intimate street-level broadcast studio and live event space. More information about programs, podcasts, and stations may be found at www.nypublicradio.org.
About Station Resource Group
Station Resource Group is an alliance of public media institutions that operates the most dynamic, innovative, and successful public radio stations and joint licensees in America. SRG Members serve their communities with a growing array of programming and services—real-time broadcast and digital audio streams, on-demand audio, podcasts, social media, digital publishing, live events, and video—across a constantly evolving set of platforms for networked digital age.
About the National Federation of Community Broadcasters
Founded in 1975, NFCB is the oldest and largest national organization dedicated to community stations within the public media system. Core services include education and training, advocacy and representation, consulting, and facilitating peer-to-peer exchange.