WINOOSKI, Vt. (AP) - Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS announced Tuesday that they plan to merge next year to better serve the community.
The two boards unanimously voted to merge to create a new public media organization, which is expected to be launched on July 1, 2021, officials said. It must first get approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
“It’s never been more important to strengthen public media and build deeper connections within our community,” said Vermont PBS board chair Marguerite Dibble in a written statement. “After many successful collaborations, we’ve recognized that these two organizations share a mission and vision to connect Vermonters.”
VPR board chair Charlie Brown noted that that the media landscape is rapidly changing and audience needs are evolving.
“Together, our talents and complementary offerings will provide our audience with the ability to experience education, news, culture, the arts, and local content in a variety of formats, to meet their individual needs,” he said.
The new media organization will be led by Scott Finn, VPR’s president and CEO. Steve Ferreira, acting CEO of Vermont PBS, will serve as chief operating officer.
VPR and Vermont PBS plan to work together over the next several months on a plan. Both organizations and boards will continue to exist independently during this time.
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