A new nonprofit, Public Media Infrastructure, has been created to distribute content to and from U.S. public radio stations.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is providing approximately $57 million in support in one of its last action items before winding down.
The new entity will handle distribution through 2030 and is backed by the American Public Media Group, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, New York Public Radio, PRX and the Station Resource Group.
CPB, which is in the process of winding down its operations with the rescission of federal funds for FY 2026 and FY 2027, said it remained committed to responsibly stewarding remaining federal funds.
It put in a request for proposals in August for an entity responsible for the delivery of “thousands of hours” of audio programming each year between content providers and stations, which it said followed a consultation with a working group and Deloitte Consulting.
“The grant to PMI ensures that those dollars will have the greatest possible impact, sustaining public media’s interconnection services and positioning the system for the future,” a CPB spokesperson said.
A release said the grant will allow PMI to deliver interconnection services to public stations nationwide through platforms like PRX’s Dovetail, while also expanding capabilities in digital content distribution, audience measurement and sponsorship technology.
[Related: “NYPR Offers Free Programming to Needy Peers”]
Among the requirements CPB included in its August RFP was for the entity too oversee Primary Entry Point feed designation for the delivery of emergency alerting.
“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,” said Patricia Harrison, CPB’s president and CEO.
NPR subsequently sued to block the grant described above; read further coverage.
