Next on 'This American Life': The End of a 17-Year Distribution Deal

 By 
Josh Dickey
 on 
Next on 'This American Life': The End of a 17-Year Distribution Deal
'This American Life' host Ira Glass promises he's not going off the air. Credit: Tina Fineberg

This American Life won't be on Public Radio International anymore, but Ira Glass' popular anthology program will be ... somewhere. Eventually.

After a 17-year-run that redefined Saturday afternoon for millions of listeners, the distribution agreement will terminate this summer, PRI announced Thursday.

“During our most recent negotiation, it became clear that our organizations’ expectations regarding our futures were different,” PRI executive Julia Yager said in a statement to Variety.

PRI didn't say where This American Life -- still one of the most downloaded podcasts in the U.S. -- would be going. Nor did the show, which made very clear on Twitter that it would stay on the air.

Would that be terrestrial radio, or would they give satellite a serious look (see what we did there)?

Dear @Variety and everyone else: We are not going off the radio, just switching distributors. But thanks for the concern!

— This American Life (@ThisAmerLife) March 20, 2014

 

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!