What WUSF Public Media does

WUSF Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcasting organization founded in 1963 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, operating as part of the University of South Florida system. The USF Board of Trustees holds the FCC broadcast license for WUSF 89.7 FM, which serves as the Tampa Bay area's primary NPR member station. The organization operates a multi-station network that includes WUSF 89.7 (news and talk), Classical WSMR (classical music), WUSF Jazz, and Arts Axis Florida (arts and cultural programming). Beyond traditional FM broadcast, WUSF distributes content through digital streaming, iOS and Android mobile applications, and major podcast platforms, producing at least eight original podcast series covering Florida politics, environment, arts, and community issues.

WUSF's content portfolio spans local and state news, national NPR programming, weather and hurricane coverage, and specialized verticals including Health News Florida and WUSF Noticias (Spanish-language). The station produces the Wake Up Call daily email newsletter, maintains active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Bluesky, and runs an internship program for journalism students. The organization engages in long-form investigative reporting on topics such as the Tampa Bay eviction crisis, Florida climate change impacts, and environmental issues in the Everglades.

WUSF is funded through three primary revenue streams: individual listener donations and sustainer memberships, corporate underwriting from local and regional businesses, and federal grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The organization also accepts vehicle donations, planned giving, and estate gifts. As a nonprofit public media entity, WUSF relies on community support rather than advertising or subscription revenue, and faces exposure to changes in federal public broadcasting funding. The station operates in the Tampa Bay and west central Florida market, with no global geographic footprint beyond digital streaming and podcast distribution.

Name

WUSF Public Media

Legal name

WUSF Public Media

Website

https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

WUSF Public Media is a nonprofit NPR affiliate public radio organization in Tampa, Florida, operating under the University of South Florida. It delivers local journalism, national NPR programming, and original podcasts to west central Florida listeners, funded by member donations, corporate sponsorship, and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• NPR affiliate services
• Local news reporting
• Podcast production
• Community media

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions and Donations: Individual listeners contribute one-time or recurring (sustainer) donations to support the station's operations, with members receiving access to thank-you gifts and special events based on contribution levels.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Local and regional businesses sponsor programming and content on WUSF in exchange for on-air recognition and branding opportunities.
3. Vehicle and Property Donations: The station accepts vehicle donations and real estate donations as alternative giving methods for supporters.
4. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: WUSF accepts donor-advised funds, IRA charitable distributions, appreciated stock and securities, and gift planning arrangements through legacy giving programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WUSF Public Media operates an NPR-affiliated FM radio station (WUSF 89.7) and a multi-platform public media network serving the Tampa Bay region. Core deliverables include local and state news reporting, nationally syndicated NPR programming (Morning Edition, All Things Considered), classical music (Classical WSMR), jazz programming (WUSF Jazz), original podcast series, a mobile news application, Spanish-language news (WUSF Noticias), and daily email newsletters.

Product overview

WUSF Public Media operates a multi-platform public media organization anchored by WUSF 89.7, an NPR-affiliated FM radio station serving Tampa Bay. The organization encompasses Classical WSMR for classical music programming, WUSF Jazz for jazz content, and The Florida Channel for state government affairs coverage. The portfolio includes eight distinct podcast series (Florida Matters, Defenders of the Everglades, The Bay Blend, The Zest Podcast, The Florida Roundup, Our Changing State, Studio Sessions, and others), the WUSF News mobile app for on-demand and live listening, WUSF Noticias for Spanish-language journalism, and the Wake Up Call daily email newsletter. Membership-based support and corporate sponsorship fund operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WUSF Network: Multi-station network including WUSF 89.7, Classical WSMR, WUSF Jazz, Arts Axis Florida, and WUSF's Longest Table
• WUSF Noticias
• Health News Florida

Products and services

• WUSF 89.7 Main NPR-affiliated FM radio station broadcasting at 89.7 MHz, delivering local news, national NPR programming including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and original regional content for the Tampa Bay area. Targeted at general public listeners in Tampa Bay and west central Florida.
• Classical WSMR Classical music radio station operated by WUSF Public Media, providing classical music programming to the west central Florida region. Targeted at classical music listeners in the Tampa Bay area.
• WUSF Jazz Jazz music programming and Studio Sessions content produced by WUSF, available through the Arts Axis Florida partnership. Targeted at jazz enthusiasts and cultural audiences in west central Florida.
• WUSF News App Mobile application for iOS and Android devices enabling users to listen to live radio streams and on-demand WUSF programming. Targeted at on-the-go listeners and digital-first audiences.
• Florida Matters Flagship local podcast featuring live discussions on Florida news and politics, covering topics from immigration policy to local community issues. Targeted at Florida residents interested in-depth public affairs content.
• Defenders of the Everglades Documentary podcast series exploring the intersection of environmental issues and political conflicts in the Florida Everglades. Targeted at environmentally engaged Florida listeners.
• The Bay Blend Local podcast featuring stories about Tampa Bay area residents, culture, and community topics. Targeted at Tampa Bay residents interested in local culture.
• The Zest Podcast Podcast covering Tampa Bay area arts, culture, and lifestyle content. Targeted at audiences interested in Tampa Bay arts and culture.
• The Florida Roundup Weekly news roundup podcast covering the week's top Florida stories from WUSF and partner stations. Targeted at Florida residents seeking weekly news summaries.
• Our Changing State Podcast series examining how Florida is changing and the impact on residents. Targeted at Florida residents interested in demographic, economic, and environmental changes.
• Studio Sessions Music performance series featuring jazz and other musical genres, produced in collaboration with Arts Axis Florida. Targeted at music and performing arts audiences.
• WUSF Noticias Spanish-language news service providing local Florida news and information for Spanish-speaking audiences. Targeted at Spanish-speaking residents in the Tampa Bay area and across Florida.
• Wake Up Call Daily email newsletter delivering news updates to subscribers Monday through Friday. Targeted at email subscribers seeking curated local and state news summaries.
• The Florida Channel Public affairs programming covering Florida state government, legislature, and political events. Targeted at civically engaged Florida residents and policy watchers.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NPR (National Public Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUSF is the Tampa Bay affiliate of NPR, carrying nationally syndicated programs including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and distributing NPR news content to its audience. NPR provides national and international news programming while WUSF focuses on local coverage.
• University of South Florida (USF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUSF is operated by the University of South Florida. The USF Board of Trustees holds the license to all WUSF broadcast properties. The station operates as part of USF's public media division, with staff and facilities associated with the university campus.
• Arts Axis FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts Axis Florida is a local arts organization that collaborates with WUSF on coverage and promotion of arts and cultural events in the Tampa Bay area, including joint content like Studio Sessions.
• Classical WSMRcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClassical WSMR is part of the WUSF network, extending public media reach in the region with classical music programming as a complementary audio format.
• WUSF JazzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWUSF Jazz operates as part of the WUSF network, providing jazz music programming and cultural content that complements the station's news and information services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WMFE (Central Florida Public Media): Orlando-based NPR member station serving central Florida with comparable news, classical (WCFB), and jazz programming — the closest format-overlap peer for WUSF and the most directly comparable Florida public radio operation.
• WLRN (South Florida Public Media): Miami-based NPR member station with news/talk and classical formats serving south Florida. Operates a comparable public-radio model with membership funding and multi-format network, in a different but adjacent Florida market.
• WJCT Public Media (Jacksonville): Jacksonville-based public media operator combining NPR radio (WJCT 89.9) and PBS television under one nonprofit — directly comparable multi-format public media operation in another Florida metro.
• WGCU (Florida Gulf Coast University Public Media): Ft. Myers-based NPR member station operated by Florida Gulf Coast University — directly comparable university-affiliated public radio model serving a Florida Gulf Coast market that overlaps WUSF's regional footprint.
• WUFT (University of Florida Public Media): Gainesville-based NPR member station operated by the University of Florida's College of Journalism — the closest analog of university-licensed public radio governance, in a Florida state-university setting parallel to WUSF's USF affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• WFUV (Fordham University Public Radio): New York-based public radio station operated by Fordham University with NPR-affiliated news/talk and triple-A music formats — a comparable university-licensed public radio operator in a larger market that benchmarks the university-affiliate model.
• WAMU (DC Public Radio): Washington DC-area NPR member station operated by American University, with deep investigative and political coverage — a benchmark regional NPR affiliate of comparable scale and editorial investment profile.
• KCRW (Santa Monica College Public Radio): Los Angeles-area public radio station with strong digital, podcast, and music programming — a comparable forward-leaning public broadcaster that has aggressively built multi-platform distribution and is a relevant benchmark for digital expansion.

Emerging players

• WMNF (Tampa Community Radio): Tampa-based listener-supported community radio station serving the same Tampa Bay geography as WUSF — operates a complementary (not directly competitive) format and is a relevant local-market peer for audience-overlap dynamics.

Others

• NPR (National Public Radio): WUSF's content-distribution partner and the broader NPR network — not a direct competitor but the parent network whose programming relationship and federal-policy advocacy substantially shape WUSF's economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wusf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg
• Facebookfacebook.com/wusf
• Instagraminstagram.com/wusfpublicmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WUSF Public Media