NPR and PBS affiliate WHYY faces future without federal funding
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WHYY's HQ near Independence Mall. Photo: Paul Marotta/Getty
Philadelphia's public media affiliate WHYY is planning for a future without federal funding.
The big picture: The U.S. House voted early Friday to give final approval to legislation clawing back $9 billion in federal funding for the Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio and foreign aid programs.
Zoom in: WHYY is not expected to cut programming or staff in the wake of any federal funding loss, WHYY CEO Bill Marrazzo tells Axios.
- Yes, but: The outlet could see higher costs acquiring content, or declining revenues from licensing its shows to other stations that are also facing cutbacks.
What they're saying: Marrazzo says WHYY has worked to "build a strong financial and market position to weather disruptions."
- "We have grown our audiences across all our platforms and, with it, our contributed income from growth in voluntary contributions of support," he says.
How it works: The GOP's rescissions package takes back money that has already been appropriated by Congress and signed into law by the president.
By the numbers: WHYY received 7% of its budget from federal funding in 2024, or roughly $3.8 million.
- Meanwhile, member contributions account for the outlet's largest share of revenue (44%).
State of play: WHYY — which serves about 3 million households spanning Philly and its Pennsylvania suburbs, Delaware and most of New Jersey — has seen membership growth amid consistent declines in federal funding in recent years.
- The outlet's membership base rose 7% over the past year and now stands at 139,000.
Zoom out: The federal cuts could have dire effects on other public stations across Pennsylvania:
- WESA radio station in Pittsburgh stands to lose roughly $750,000, or around 9% of its budget.
- And WQED, the PBS TV station in Pittsburgh best known for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," is looking at an 11% cut ($1.8 million).
- WPSU radio, which covers State College, is facing a cut of 17% of its budget ($1.4 million).