Underwriters

Public Radio International (PRI) is a public radio network that acquires, develops, funds, and distributes public radio programming from station-based, independent and international producers.

Formerly American Public Radio, PRI was founded in 1983 by five leading public radio stations to enable a diversity of program sources and production styles to be heard on public radio throughout the U.S. The network officially became Public Radio International July 1, 1994.

PRI has more than 625 affiliate stations throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Guam. On average, 18.8 million people tune to PRI affiliate stations each week.

Programs are principally available through non-commercial, "public radio" stations in the United States. Some commercial radio stations utilize PRI programs in the U.S. and overseas.

PRI is governed by an independent, international board composed of directors sharing a belief in the value of public service broadcasting.

PRI distributes more than 425 hours of weekly programming, more hours than any other public radio distributor. PRI's weekly schedule includes programming in four comprehensive categories:

News/Information

• As It Happens
• BBC World Service
• Beyond Computers
• The Connection
• Marketplace
• National Native News
• The Savvy Traveler
• Sound Money
• To the Best of Our Knowledge
• The World
• World Update
• Zorba Paster On Your Health

Comedy/Variety

• Ask Dr. Science
• Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?
• A Prairie Home Companion
• The Splendid Table
• This American Life
• The Writer's Almanac

Music

• PRI's Chamber Music Series
• Music from Chautauqua
• New York Chamber Music Series: Frick Collections
• Spoleto Chamber Music Series
• PRI's Orchestral Series
• Baltimore Symphony
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
• Minnesota Orchestra
• Pittsburgh Symphony
• Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
• Daily & Weekly
• Classical 24
• Pipedreams
• The Record Shelf
• Saint Paul Sunday
• Schickele Mix
• Sound & Spirit
• Contemporary and American Music
• Afropop Worldwide
• American Routes
• Echoes
• Mountain Stage
• World Cafe
• Jazz
• Jazz After Hours
• Jazz Smithsonian
• Riverwalk, Live From The Landing

Specials and Documentaries

• Black History Month Programming  
• The Duke Ellington Centennial Radio Project
• Gray Matters: "The Teenage Brain"
• Humankind: Profiles about the Power of the Human Spirit
• The Mississippi: River of Song
• River City Brass Band

The PRI Program Fund awards are made for program research, piloting, and production made in fields of news and information, music and variety, with emphasis on developing new talents and program concepts, and on serving diverse audiences.

Public Radio International and National Public Radio are the two major distribution services for public radio. Individual public radio stations can be affiliates of both PRI and NPR, selecting programming offered by each. "Public radio" is a generic term, while "Public Radio International" and "National Public Radio" refer to specific distributors.