NYPR Launches Free Program Support for Public Radio

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 2:33pm CT

New York Public Radio (NYPR)

New York Public Radio (NYPR), home to WNYC and WQXR, has announced the launch of the Station-to-Station Programming Project, an initiative to provide its nationally syndicated programs at no cost to financially challenged public radio stations.

The move comes as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) prepares to shut down at the end of September following Congress' approval of a $9.4 billion rescission package. The loss of CPB funding threatens the future of more than 1,500 public radio and television stations nationwide.

Starting October 1, stations that receive at least 10% of their budgets from CPB -- about 64% of the public radio system -- will be eligible to receive programming such as Radiolab, On the Media, The New Yorker Radio Hour, Terrestrials, and distributed shows including Freakonomics Radio, Science Friday, and Today, Explained. Larger stations and non-commercial educational broadcasters outside the CPB network may also qualify for the project on a case-by-case basis.

By waiving distribution fees, NYPR hopes to allow stations to redirect funds toward sustaining local operations and reporting. The project is initially set to run for one year, with NYPR seeking philanthropic support to extend it further.

"This is a consequential and urgent moment for public media," said LaFontaine E. Oliver, President & CEO of NYPR. "We want to help our fellow public radio stations devote as much of their budgets as possible to the excellent local reporting and original programming that keep communities healthy and bring them together."

Freakonomics host Stephen Dubner and Science Friday's Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman also voiced support, emphasizing the importance of keeping critical journalism and science programming accessible during a time of funding uncertainty.

The initiative is part of NYPR's broader "Stand Together" campaign, which aims to build a financial firewall against the impact of CPB cuts and to protect the public media system at large.