UPI is wholly dependent for its revenues on fees paid by its subscribers. It receives no government subsidies from the United States or any other nation.
Its services are available to any reputable news organization anywhere in the world which is willing to pay a fair rate for them. Rates range from as little as $100 per month for a small newspaper or radio station in a provincial town in an economically backward area to some thousands of dollars weekly for subscribers in major metropolitan areas and even more for the larger national news organizations.
Although UPI is a private enterprise organized for profit as well as to provide a needed service, it has not returned a dividend to its stockholders in more than 20 years. While its revenues in 1978 will exceed $75 million, so will its expenses.
Because it was founded on the ideal that unbiased, factual news reports should be available to all who want them and because it should be economically profitable to do so, UPI is eager to make its services available to all. However, it cannot provide a worldwide service on a free exchange basis to newspapers, broadcasters and national or regional news services.
It attempts to tailor its services to the requirements of its subscribers within the limits permitted by adherence to the ideal of honest reporting. However, it expects to receive payment commensurate with the fair value of such service and it will not continue service to subscribers who fail to meet their obligations.