PRSS Services for Stations

The Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) is the distribution network for thousands of hours of news, music, and specialized audience programming every year to public radio stations throughout the United States. Managed by NPR Distribution, PRSS services include:

High-quality Satellite Transmission
The PRSS currently leases three C-band transponders on the Galaxy 16 satellite, providing complete geographic coverage of the United States.

Equipment and Systems Automated for Stations
Each PRSS interconnected station owns the downlink and uplink equipment that enables it to receive programs over the PRSS. Station equipment and systems tune to the satellite channels, facilitate scheduling, transmission, and automated program reception and recording.

Direct Access Communications System (DACS)
In addition to sending and receiving programs, users of the PRSS have access to the DACS (Direct Access Communications System), an electronic message system that transmits timely program and scheduling information to public radio stations over a channel on the satellite.

Centralized Program Information and Content Exchange
The ContentDepot Portal is a web-based service that gives stations a single place to find programs, program information, and other related elements. The ContentDepot facilitates a powerful exchange of public radio program assets and information between program producers or distributors and stations. The ContentDepot makes the most current program information available throughout the public radio community—in particular to station program directors.

24/7 Technical Support and Uplinking
The Network Operations Center (NOC), located at NPR headquarters in Washington, DC, is the nerve center of the PRSS, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NOC coordinates and monitors more than 1300 transmissions each week to the channels scheduled by NPR Distribution. The NOC also serves as the master uplink for PRSS programming.

Several transportable uplinks are available for transmitting live events from remote locations.

24/7 Maintenance
The PRSS operates a Satellite Equipment Maintenance and Repair Depot at its headquarters in Washington, DC. The Depot provides telephone consultation, module repair, and maintenance service for selected earth terminal equipment. On-site repair or installation services are also available when requested (at station's expense).

Engineering Solutions
NPR Distribution engineers are available to assist with new station planning and equipment set up, earth terminal refurbishment, and many other technical support needs. We can assist you in using C- or Ku-band to expand reach and reduce costs, and with building translator and regional networks to expand your station's reach.

Distribution Innovation
The PRSS is committed to constantly improving the services it provides to the public radio community. Our next generation system for program delivery, ContentDepot, offers increased service, automation, support, and ease-of-use to stations.

Please contact us at 202.513.2600 or via email for more information about these services.