**Background and History**:
– PRI distributed popular programming to U.S. public radio stations.
– Programs were produced by various organizations in the U.S. and globally.
– PRI, NPR, and American Public Media were major program producers.
– PRI offered over 280 hours of weekly programming to 850 radio station affiliates.
– Founded in 1983 as American Public Radio, renamed Public Radio International in 1994.
– Acquired by the WGBH Educational Foundation in 2012.
**Program Launches and Milestones**:
– Classical 24, the first 24-hour classical music service, launched in 1995.
– The World, focusing on global issues, premiered in 1996.
– Studio 360 launched in 2001.
– Introduced digital cinema in 2008 and the Engagement Lab in 2017.
**Relationship with NPR and Program Distribution**:
– PRI, NPR, and American Public Media were key providers of public radio programming.
– PRI focused on global journalism, diverse voices, and cultural perspectives.
– Targeted a younger audience compared to NPR.
– Changes in program distribution among public radio organizations.
**Acquisitions, Mergers, and Partnerships**:
– PRX merged with PRI in a new organization.
– WGBH acquired PRI.
– Partnerships with Selected Shorts, Science Friday, and others.
– PRI dropped ‘This American Life’ in 2014 and rebranded in 2019.
**Awards, Recognitions, and Radio Productions**:
– The World and PRI received prestigious awards.
– Collaboration with Central Michigan Univ., PBS Distribution, and others.
– Various radio productions and innovations, such as Innovation Hub and channel sharing agreements.
Public Radio International (PRI) was an American public radio organization. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, PRI provided programming to over 850 public radio stations in the United States.
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| Formerly | American Public Radio (1983–1994) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public radio network |
| Founded | April 15, 1983 |
| Founder | William Hugh Kling |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Fate | Merged into Public Radio Exchange |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Area served | United States |
Key people |
|
| Revenue | 16,134,095 United States dollar (2017)  |
| Parent | WGBH Educational Foundation (2012–2018) |
PRI was one of the main providers of programming for public radio stations in the US, alongside National Public Radio, American Public Media and the Public Radio Exchange. PRI merged with the Public Radio Exchange in 2018.