Public Media Organizations Unite To Chart Next Era For Public Radio.

Five leading U.S. public media organizations — 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 meet the demands of a shifting landscape as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) winds down.

The new nonprofit, Public Media Infrastructure (PMI), has the support of a $57.9 million grant from the CPB. The initiative is in response to the elimination of federal funding for CPB by Congress and aims to stabilize and modernize the public radio system during a time of transition.

PMI will oversee the development of new radio and digital distribution systems, create tools for revenue generation and audience development, and provide shared services such as data analytics and content delivery. The organization is also tasked with maintaining core infrastructure, including satellite and emergency alert systems, to ensure that local stations continue to operate without disruption.

“This is a truly profound moment for public broadcasting,” Bill Davis, Principal of the Station Resource Group, one of PMI’s founding organizations, says in a news release. “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… PMI will provide the infrastructure and support that works for both local stations and national producers in the 21st century.”

The public radio system includes more than 1,300 stations that reach 99% of Americans across all 50 states. PMI’s five founding organizations represent a wide range of station types and locations. Collectively, they bring decades of experience in broadcasting, digital audio, technical operations, revenue generation, and content innovation.

PMI will announce its leadership team later this year. The founding organizations will continue to operate independently while collaborating through PMI to support the broader public media infrastructure.

The organization also plans to work closely with the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) and NPR to maintain uninterrupted service and ensure long-term operational stability for public radio stations nationwide.

The grant of up to $57.9 million over five years aims to sustain public radio distribution through 2030. It will enable PMI to deliver reliable interconnection services to public radio stations nationwide, while also expanding innovative capabilities in digital content distribution, audience measurement, and sponsorship technology.

“By awarding this grant to PMI, CPB is placing trust in stations to drive the future of radio content distribution, ensuring that interconnection is not only reliable but also innovative, representative and sustainable,” said Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of CPB. “This decision reflects CPB’s commitment to support the entire public media system, especially rural and community stations, and to prepare the system for the future.”