R.I. Public Radio breaks away from WBUR

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Public Radio has achieved its independence from Boston University and its WBUR 90.9 FM, which had subsidized and controlled the local National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate since its founding a decade ago.
“We are, at last, independent,” Joe O’Connor, general manager of WRNI and Rhode Island Public Radio, said in a Sunday statement. “This means that Boston University and WBUR will no longer subsidize us, as they have since the station went on the air in 1998,” he said. “Instead, WRNI will be totally funded by Rhode Islanders, as it should be.”
Rhode Island Public Radio operates WRNI 1290 AM, which began broadcasting in 1998, and the new WRNI 102.7 FM.
The nonprofit media company’s new independence is the result of an agreement between Boston University and Rhode Island Public Radio that took effect first thing Monday. The agreement calls for WRNI to pay Boston University $2 million over the next 10 years, to acquire full rights to the 1290 AM signal.
O’Connor recalled that, when he joined the local NPR affiliate in May 2006, “WRNI could neither reach half of the state reliably nor garner enough revenue to meet even the most basic expenses,” O’Connor recalled. (READ MORE)
Now, he said, “with our expanded signal on 102.7 FM that can be heard throughout southern Rhode Island, and with the confidence and support of our audience, WRNI can and will invest in a robust news staff [and] local segments on the issues that matter to us, and will continue to expand our broadcast signal across the state.
“Your past support for WRNI has kept us on the air. Your future support for WRNI under Rhode Island Public Radio will ensure our eventually becoming the most trusted multimedia source for news in the state,” O’Connor said.
Its extension into the South County area was made possible by “a generous [$2.65 million] loan from the Rhode Island Foundation,” which supported WRNI’s purchase of 102.7 FM in Narragansett, station officials noted. (READ MORE)
“Boston University is proud of its stewardship of WRNI and its investment to preserve National Public Radio in Rhode Island,” Joseph P. Mercurio, the school’s executive vice president, said in a statement. “We applaud RIPR for its perseverance and determination to achieve its independence, and we wish them well.”
“This was the dream from the very beginning, and we are thrilled it has finally become a reality,” said Eugene Mihaly, former chairman of the board of Rhode Island Public Radio. He joined O’Connor in praising Boston University and its WBUR Group for their “patience, cooperation, and generosity.”
To mark the occasion, the organization announced an “Independence” on-air pledge drive, starting today, that seeks to raise $100,000. As of noon today, the station had raised $14,206, according to the running tally on www.wrni.org. “We’ll always give our community ample reasons to be proud of supporting their public radio station,” O’Connor said, “and I’m confident we’ll make our goal.”
He said WRNI’s future plans include hiring more local reporters, presenting more local news segments and pursuing further signal expansion.
Rhode Island Public Radio – the state’s National Public Radio affiliate – operates WRNI 1290 AM and 102.7 FM. Founded in 1998, it gained its independence from the Boston University-owned WBUR Group on Sept. 1, 2008. For more information, or to take part in the station’s $100,000 “Independence Campaign” pledge drive, visit www.wrni.org.