WNYC announced Tuesday that it is raising $15 million to expand its national programming under the name WNYC Studios.
As part of the announcement, WNYC said that the radio show it’s developing in collaboration with the New Yorker, The New Yorker Radio Hour, will debut Oct. 24. WNYC is also working on a spinoff podcast of Radiolab “looking at American democracy and life through the lens of Supreme Court cases” for launch next year.
WNYC Studios will incubate and produce national podcasts and radio shows in addition to distributing terrestrial radio programming to stations. WNYC plans to raise $15 million for the division through philanthropy, crowdfunding and sponsorships. The funds “will seed new projects and use revenue from successful projects to incubate additional shows,” according to a press release. So far, it has raised $2 million.
The station is also looking to increase its partnerships with other media outlets, journalists and celebrities. Pilot partnerships include Vice News, author Roxane Gay, Daily Show correspondent Jessica Williams and comedians Sara Schaefer and Phoebe Robinson. WNYC Studios is also partnering with Snap Judgment to co-produce the show.
WNYC now produces 17 podcasts and nationally distributed radio shows. It plans to increase its production by 25 percent in the first year of WNYC Studios.
Questions, comments, tips? [email protected] or @tjfalk
Related stories from Current: