The PRI/PRX Collaboration

This was a 6-month pilot project running during calendar year 2004 into the first quarter of 2005, intended to make PRI specials and limited series more accessible to stations and to take advantage of PRX's emerging on-demand distribution platform. It was a non-exclusive arrangement in keeping with PRX's mission of creating new broadcast opportunities for producers and stations, and PRI's commitment to providing exceptional programming to its affiliates.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I'm with a PRI affiliate station, how does this work?
The Public Radio Exchange allowed stations to acquire and air work directly from other stations and independent producers; PRI and PRX gave PRI stations 13 hours worth of "points" to spend on programming.

Payment?
PRX signed up PRI stations up with free starter accounts, with the 13 free hours for usage til the end of March 2005.

What was the length of contract?
The PRI stations could keep the 13 hours of free points until March 1, 2005.

Can we supplement our existing PRX account?
If a station already had a PRX starter account, they were eligible for additional points to bring their PRX accounts to a total of 13 hours.

PRI Programming on PRX

A variety of PRI's celebrated specials and limited series will be available on PRX, including "The Blues," "A Sense of Place," "Let The Good Times Roll," "Hank Williams - Still Cookin'," "Then I'll Be Free to Travel Home," and "Gray Matters." More will be added in the coming weeks and months.

You can see a full list of pieces and series from PRI here.

Can we acquire any programming on PRX, or just PRI stuff?
Everything is fair game.

Is PRI programming on PRX only available to PRI affiliates?
Yes, currently only PRI affiliates may acquire PRI programming on PRX.org. Non-affiliates can contact PRI regarding carriage for particular programs.

Restrictions on the Use of PRX Pieces
All pieces are available for broadcast and internet simulcast, but producers can set additional license terms for their work. For example, a producer may say that excerpting is permitted on a case-by-case basis, or that a particular funding credit must be read. You can see the terms for a given piece by clicking on "License / Download" on any piece listing.

Distributing through PRX

Your station can upload work to distribute on PRX. With your account you also get one hour of audio space on PRX servers to upload pieces for other stations to license.

Royalties
Your station can earn royalties on PRX, but only if you decide to join PRX as a paid member. Any royalties you earn with a free account will be paid out when you upgrade to a full membership.

Each time a station licenses and downloads a piece, points are deducted from the station's account and put into the producer's account. At the end of each quarter PRX adds up the points, calculates a royalty rate - the dollar value of each point - and sends the producer a check.

Royalty Rate
The current royalty rate is $0.10 per point, which works out to $.50 per minute at the standard price of 5 points per minute. So a 60-minute documentary licensed by a single station will generate a $30.00 check to the producer.

What are PRX points?
Stations receive points to spend on PRX. The point value of every piece on PRX is based on the length of the piece. The default rate is 5 points per minute, so a 10-minute piece costs 50 points.

For example, PRI affiliates are receiving 13 programming hours; this works out to 3900 points to spend on PRX (13 hours X 60 minutes X 5 points = 3900). When you download a 5-minute piece, 25 points are automatically deducted from your account, leaving you with 3875 points.

Help and Technical Support

PRX staff is available to help you sort out any questions you might have along the way. Take a look at our quick start guide.

Or visit our online general help.

You can also email help@prx.org (we try to get back to you within a day) or, if you need urgent assistance, call (617) 576-5355.