Ideastream Public Media, PBS Western Reserve to merge

PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream Public Media have announced plans to merge, creating a combined public media organization serving more than 4 million people across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

The organizations’ boards have approved the agreement following a due diligence process that began after the July 2025 elimination of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding, reductions in state-level public media support, rising operating costs and uncertainty surrounding future public funding.

Ideastream President & CEO Kevin Martin said the two organizations have lost a combined $4 million in annual federal funding but remain financially strong.

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