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Ocean State Media Plans Public Tour After Rhode Island Merger - Radio Ink

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, October 6th 2025 at 7:39 GMT by Radio Ink
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Ocean State Media Launches Public‑Tour Initiative After Historic Rhode Island Merger

October 6, 2025 – Radio Ink

In a landmark move that is set to reshape the radio landscape of the New England coast, Ocean State Media (OSM) announced today that it will open its doors to the public for an immersive “behind‑the‑scenes” tour following its recent merger with the Rhode Island Public Radio (RIPR) network. The joint venture, formally sealed on September 20, has combined the broadcasting strengths of RIPR’s flagship stations—WBRU, WRIH, and WRIW—with OSM’s growing portfolio of regional community stations in the broader Atlantic region. The two‑month‑old entity plans to use the tour to showcase its new integrated facilities, explain its expanded programming strategy, and deepen ties with listeners, sponsors, and civic partners.

What the Merger Means

The merger, the first of its kind in the state’s public‑radio sector in over three decades, was announced by both organizations on the evening of September 20 during a livestreamed joint press conference hosted by the newly formed Ocean State Media board. According to OSM CEO and RIPR former executive director Dr. Maya Patel, the combination will “create a unified public‑broadcasting network that can deliver higher‑quality local news, arts coverage, and educational programming while remaining financially sustainable.”

OSM’s board cited a 5‑year trend of declining ad revenue for smaller, independently owned stations and a rising demand for high‑definition audio streaming. The merger allows the entity to pool resources: shared engineering staff, a unified underwriting program, and a joint marketing platform that can reach an audience of over 500,000 households across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The new entity will operate from a renovated studio complex in Providence that houses the original RIPR transmission tower, now upgraded with state‑of‑the‑art digital broadcasting technology.

The Public‑Tour Plan

Under the new initiative, OSM will open its main studios and production facilities to visitors every Friday and Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., beginning on Monday, October 28. The tour will include:

• Live Broadcast Experience – Guests can watch the live radio production of Rhode Island Morning, one of the network’s flagship news programs, and see how content is created on the fly.

• Technical Show‑case – A guided walk through the engineering bay where listeners can learn about the new ATSC‑3.0 digital transmission system, the state‑of‑the‑art audio mixing console, and the newly installed high‑definition video‑to‑audio pipeline that will support future podcast and on‑air video content.

• Community Outreach Hub – The newly designated “Community Lounge” will feature a panel with station managers, local artists, and a “Ask the Producer” session where visitors can learn about the creation of specialized content such as the Harbor Sound series and the Kids‑Radio educational initiative.

• Youth Engagement Lab – A dedicated space for school groups and university students to create a one‑minute broadcast segment under the guidance of experienced producers. The lab is expected to produce a new series of short local news clips for OSM’s digital platforms.

Dr. Patel emphasized that the tour is “more than a promotional stunt; it’s an invitation to our listeners to see the real heart behind the voice on their radios.” She added that the tours are expected to generate both awareness and goodwill that will translate into increased underwriting sponsorships.

A Broader Vision

Ocean State Media’s broader strategy is to create a “media ecosystem” that extends beyond traditional radio. The company has already announced a partnership with the Providence Institute of Technology to develop an undergraduate internship program in broadcast journalism. Meanwhile, the network’s flagship news podcast, Ocean State Ledger, will now be distributed through an expanded “Podcast Studio” that uses AI‑driven editing tools to streamline post‑production.

A press release from OSM noted that the merger has brought about a 23% increase in digital streaming listeners within the first two months. The network’s new “Listener‑First” initiative will include quarterly town‑hall meetings, a revamped website with user‑generated content sections, and a “Digital Storytelling” grant program for emerging local journalists.

The public‑tour initiative dovetails with OSM’s “Community First” pledge, which aims to fund community‑based projects in each of the six counties the network now serves. The company is also exploring a “Sustainability Fund” that will support local environmental initiatives, aligning with the network’s long‑standing coverage of Rhode Island’s coastal conservation issues.

Industry Reactions

Several industry experts have weighed in on the merger and the tour announcement. Michael O’Brien, a former FCC regulator, praised the move for “leveraging economies of scale while preserving local voice.” Lisa Gomez, a media analyst at New England Digital Media, noted that the merger “positions Ocean State Media as a formidable competitor to larger commercial broadcasters in the region, especially with the integration of digital and on‑air services.”

The Providence Journal’s cultural correspondent, Jenna Li, highlighted the tour as a “unique chance for the community to witness the synergy between radio and digital storytelling.” She added that OSM’s commitment to community outreach “could set a new standard for how public‑media organizations engage with their audiences.”

How to Book a Spot

Visitors interested in attending the public tour can register through Ocean State Media’s website (https://www.oceanstatemedia.com/tour) or by contacting the station’s media relations office at (401) 555‑1234. Reservations are required due to limited seating, and the organization is also offering a special discounted package for school groups and community organizations.

Looking Ahead

Ocean State Media’s public‑tour initiative is part of a larger plan to launch a “Next‑Gen Radio” pilot program in 2026, which will explore interactive radio segments using AR and VR technologies. The company is also in talks with the state government to secure a public‑broadcasting grant aimed at further improving broadband access in rural areas of Rhode Island.

As the network continues to grow, the founders hope that the merger will not only strengthen its operational capabilities but also re‑affirm its mission to serve as a trusted, community‑centric information hub. “Our goal is to keep the radio alive, relevant, and deeply connected to the people who listen,” Dr. Patel said in a closing statement. “The public tour is the first step in showing how we plan to do that.”