Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting has announced that its “Lakeshore Public Radio” 89.1 WLPR Lowell IN will begin simulcasting Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media’s 920 WBAA/101.3 WBAA-FM West Lafayette on Monday, July 6.
Lakeshore Public Media states that the partnership comes in response to significant financial challenges facing public media nationwide. The organization, which also operates PBS affiliate WYIN-TV Gary/Chicago IL, lost 38% of its revenue from the cuts of federal and state funding in 2025.
Lakeshore Public Media Interim President/CEO Nancy Clifford commented, “This simulcast represents a creative and collaborative solution to ensure public radio continues to serve our region. While the funding landscape has changed, our mission has not. Partnering with WBAA allows us to maintain essential services while exploring sustainable paths forward.”
Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media, which also operates 90.1 WFYI and WFYI-TV Indianapolis, President/CEO Greg Petrowich said, “This partnership reflects the kind of innovation and shared commitment that is essential to preserving public media in communities across Indiana. When WFYI assumed management of WBAA’s operations in 2022, we focused on building creative solutions that preserve service, expand reach and strengthen public radio for listeners across the state. We are bringing that experience into this new collaboration.”
The two organizations will remain separate with listener donations going to the local operators.
