Public Radio International

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File:Pri logo.jpg
PRI logo

Public Radio International, or PRI, is a Minneapolis-based public radio organization. PRI distributes public radio programs like This American Life and co-produces the global news program The World (radio program). Programs on PRI, sometimes mis-attributed as National Public Radio programs[1], are produced by a variety of organizations in the United States and other countries.[2] PRI, along with NPR and Minnesota Public Radio's American Public Media, is one of the largest distributors of public radio programming in the United States.

PRI distributes over 400 hours of programming each week. Approximately 740 radio stations and other audio venues broadcast PRI programs or stream them online. According to 2002 Arbitron ratings, 15.2 million listeners hear PRI programming each week. Although many National Public Radio (NPR) stations broadcast shows distributed by PRI, NPR and PRI are distinct, competing radio producers and distributors.

PRI programs are distributed through North America on satellite radio. PRI had its own 24-hour channel on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 136, which was discontinued without warning in September 2006. As a response, XM Radio added more PRI programming to its own public radio channel, XM Public Radio.

According to PRI's website, "The mission of Public Radio International is to engage listeners with distinctive radio programs that provide information, insights, and cultural experiences essential to understanding a diverse, interdependent world."

PRI programming receives funding from station fees, corporate underwriting, and individual and corporate grants. Less than 2% of PRI's operating budget comes directly from the U.S. federal government.

History

PRI was founded in 1983 as American Public Radio to provide diverse voices and an alternative to NPR for public radio program distribution.[3] Four stations established American Public Radio, these were:Minnesota Public Radio,WGBH Boston, WNYC New York, and KUSC Los Angeles. The corporation changed its name to Public Radio International in 1994 to reflect its growing interest and involvement in international audio publishing, and many collaborations with the BBC.

In the mid 1990s, PRI began producing programming in addition to distributing programming. This important evolution in the company began with PRI's The World, a co-production between PRI, the BBC World Service, and WGBH Radio Boston. The program was one of the first news-oriented co-productions of the BBC World Service anywhere and is a daily global news program. This was followed by the launch of the weekend program, PRI's Studio 360 in the early 2001, a co-production between PRI and WNYC - New York Public Radio, featuring Kurt Andersen. Studio 360 strives to "get inside the creative mind" each week as it surveys the best in film, arts, design, entertainment, and culture. And in January 2007, PRI launched Fair Game from PRI, "the strange love child between the Daily Show and Morning Edition." Fair Game uses humor as a lens to put the days events in perspective. And finally, in March 2007, PRI announced that it intends to co-produce with WNYC New York Public Radio, in collaboration with WGBH Boston, the BBC World Service and The New York Times Radio, a new morning program, to provide choice in public radio mornings and to grow public radio audiences. This program will begin piloting the fall of 2007.

Public radio, PRI, and NPR

Public radio is a generic term for radio stations or programming that is not funded by advertising — specifically commercials. It is the opposite of commercial radio, the funding setup for most radio stations in the United States. PRI, NPR, and APM are the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the United States, and they compete with each other for slots on public radio stations and the attention of listeners. Any given public radio station may be an NPR member and an affiliate of PRI simultaneously.

PRI is a younger organization than NPR, which was founded 13 years earlier in 1970. Many PRI shows draw a younger overall audience than shows produced by NPR. Some listeners and critics believe that PRI programs feature a wider range of voices than NPR programs. Some programs that were formerly distributed by PRI, such as A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace, are now distributed by American Public Media. In addition, PRI distributed World Cafe for many years, but in 2005, its distribution was switched to NPR. At the same time, PRI has also picked up distribution of programs that began distribution with NPR, including Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know and most recently in 2006, Living On Earth, public radio's leading news and information program focused on the environment.

Radio programs distributed by PRI

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ http://www.mountainpridemedia.com/oitm/issues/2003/05may2003/letters.htm
  2. ^ http://www.pri.org/InPRI_FactSheet.html
  3. ^ http://www.pri.org/InPRI_FactSheet.html
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