The Public's Radio 89.3FM

What The Public's Radio 89.3FM does

The Public's Radio 89.3FM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, serving listeners across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Founded in 1998, the organization operates a primary FM signal (WNPN 89.3FM) supplemented by multiple FM/AM translators (102.9FM, 102.7FM, 1290AM, 89.5FM) plus an upcoming 91.9FM Block Island signal, with additional distribution via HD Radio, web streaming, native iOS/Android apps, and smart speakers. Its core content comprises local journalism, NPR national news syndication, BBC World Service programming, and an expanding original podcast slate including The Weekly Catch, Political Roundtable, Artscape, and the Possibly environmental podcast. The organization operates four regional bureaus (Metro Desk, Newport, South Coast, South County) and produces investigative series such as Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge. In May 2024, The Public's Radio merged with Rhode Island PBS under the parent entity Ocean State Media, creating a unified statewide public media organization combining radio, television, digital, and podcast operations under CEO Pam Johnston.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: individual listener memberships and donations (the largest source, providing more than half of total revenue), corporate underwriting and business sponsorships, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) federal grant (approximately 6% of the annual operating budget), and vehicle/property donations processed through a partnership with CARS. More than 90% of total funding comes from the communities served. In 2025, the organization faced a significant budget challenge following the loss of $1.1M in annual federal funding, prompting voluntary employee buyouts. The organization does not charge for its programming and operates with 11-50 employees across its merged radio and television operations.

Name

The Public's Radio 89.3FM

Legal name

Rhode Island PBS Foundation / The Public's Radio

Website

https://thepublicsradio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Public's Radio 89.3FM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization serving Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts through FM broadcasting, NPR syndication, and original local journalism, podcasts, and investigative reporting. It merged with Rhode Island PBS in 2024 to form Ocean State Media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

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), Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG), Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds) (MPABADAI)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• Local journalism
• Investigative reporting
• Community news
• Podcast production

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership and Donations: Individual listener donations providing the largest and most reliable source of funding, accounting for more than half of total revenue. Includes sustaining member monthly donations and one-time contributions.
2. Corporate Underwriting and Business Sponsorships: Corporate support connecting businesses with the station's trusted, mission-driven audience through clutter-free underwriting messages regulated by the FCC. Contact for sponsorships is Kim Millette at [email protected].
3. Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Grant: Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting accounts for approximately 6% of annual operating budget.
4. Vehicle and Property Donations: Partnership with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides and Services) to accept vehicle donations. Real estate donations also accepted for significant tax deductions.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Public's Radio produces and distributes local journalism, news programming, podcasts, and music content for Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts audiences via FM/AM broadcast, HD Radio, web streaming, mobile apps, and smart speakers. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization merged with Rhode Island PBS under Ocean State Media, it offers free programming supported by listener donations, corporate underwriting, and federal grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Product overview

The Public's Radio is a unified public media organization formed from the merger of Rhode Island PBS and The Public's Radio (operating as Ocean State Media). The organization offers a multi-platform portfolio centered on public radio broadcasting at 89.3FM WPN with multiple supplemental signals, alongside a growing slate of original podcasts including The Weekly Catch, Political Roundtable, Artscape, and the Possibly environmental podcast. The organization operates four regional news bureaus and produces investigative series such as Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge. Content distribution spans traditional radio, web streaming, native mobile apps for iOS and Android, and smart speaker platforms. The merged entity also encompasses Rhode Island PBS television programming under the same organizational umbrella.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Weekly Catch: Weekly news summary program covering Rhode Island politics and current events
• Political Roundtable
• Artscape
• Possibly Podcast
• Ocean State Sessions
• Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge

Products and services

• WNPN 89.3FM Radio Broadcasting
• NPR News Programming
• The Weekly Catch
• Political Roundtable
• Artscape
• Possibly Podcast
• Ocean State Sessions
• Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge
• Local News Bureaus

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides and Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to accept vehicle and real estate donations. CARS handles the processing of vehicle donations (cars, trucks, RVs, boats) while The Public's Radio receives proceeds. Vehicle donation hotline: 855-277-2346.
• NPR (National Public Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partnership where The Public's Radio rebroadcasts NPR national news content and produces local content that may be shared with NPR. The station distributes NPR programming and contributes stories to national coverage.
• BBC World ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC World Service programming available on HD Radio 89.3-HD2, providing international news coverage to listeners.
• Rhode Island PBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger completed in May 2024 creating unified public media organization under Ocean State Media. Combines Rhode Island PBS television content with The Public's Radio's radio and digital journalism, integrating content, technology, and talent.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WGBH (Boston): WGBH is the dominant public media organization in Boston, operating both public television (GBH) and public radio (WGBH 89.7 FM, WCAI Cape Cod). It is comparable as a larger New England public media peer with overlapping southeastern Massachusetts audience reach, a similar NPR-affiliate radio model, and recent talent lineage (CEO Pam Johnston joined The Public's Radio from WGBH).
• WBUR (Boston University): WBUR is Boston's primary NPR-member public radio station with strong local news, talk, and investigative programming. Comparable as a regional NPR public radio peer serving an adjacent New England market, with similar funding mix (membership, underwriting, CPB) and overlapping southeastern Massachusetts audience.
• WAMU (American University Radio): WAMU is the NPR-member public radio station serving the Washington, D.C. metro area, owned by American University. Comparable as a larger public radio station with a renowned investigative journalism unit (where TPR's Senior Editor for Investigations previously worked) and similar NPR-affiliate programming model.
• WNYC (New York Public Radio): WNYC is the flagship public radio station serving the New York metro area, operating WNYC-FM and WNYC-AM. Comparable as a major NPR-member public radio station with a strong local-news and podcast portfolio, member-supported funding model, and similar public-media governance structure.

Direct peers

• Vermont Public: Vermont Public operates public radio and television stations serving Vermont from a similar scale base. It is directly comparable as a small-state New England public media organization with a comparable NPR-affiliate radio model, member-supported funding structure, and recent merger/restructuring activity (VPR + Vermont PBS).
• New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR): NHPR operates public radio stations serving New Hampshire with a focus on local news, NPR programming, and member support. Directly comparable as a small New England state-level NPR-member station of similar size, with overlapping funding mix (individual donations, corporate underwriting, CPB) and similar audience/market dynamics.
• Connecticut Public (WNPR): Connecticut Public operates WNPR and CPTV, serving Connecticut with public radio and television. Comparable as a small-state New England public media organization that recently merged radio and TV operations, with comparable NPR-affiliate model, member-supported revenue base, and similar CPB federal funding exposure.
• Maine Public Broadcasting (Maine Public): Maine Public operates public radio and television stations serving Maine. Directly comparable as a small-state New England public media organization with an integrated radio/TV structure, NPR-affiliate programming, and similar member- and CPB-supported revenue model.
• WESA (Pittsburgh's NPR Station): WESA is the NPR-member public radio station serving Pittsburgh. Directly comparable as a mid-size regional public radio station with a similar member-supported funding model, local news focus, podcast portfolio, and CPB exposure of similar scale to The Public's Radio.

Others

• NPR (National Public Radio): NPR is the national public radio network and content distributor. Comparable not as a direct competitor but as a strategic partner/ecosystem participant: The Public's Radio rebroadcasts NPR content (Morning Edition, All Things Considered) and contributes local stories upstream, making NPR both a content supplier and audience pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThePublicsRadio
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePublicsRadio
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepublicsradio

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Public's Radio 89.3FM