It replaced a radio station from Voice of America that previously broadcast on the 104.1 MHz frequency.
If the station fell short on listener funding, the difference was made up by NPR headquarters.
In the first quarter of 2017, NPR returned its broadcast license to the regulator, Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (MABB), to take effect as of 1 October 2017.
It began broadcasting on 16 October 2017 and the schedule was expected to include locally produced speech and music programming.
Some NPR magazine content such as All Things Considered and Morning Edition were still part of the schedule.