KQED
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
KQED firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KQED
- Legal name
- KQED Inc.
- Website
- https://kqed.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KQED industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB), Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD)
Keywords
Where KQED is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KQED business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: KQED operates as a community-supported public media organization, relying heavily on membership contributions and donations from listeners and viewers. The website prominently features 'Donate' calls-to-action and membership programs.
- Corporate Sponsorship: KQED generates revenue through corporate sponsorship and underwriting, with a dedicated 'Corporate Sponsorship' page on their website supporting programming.
- Events and Live Programming: KQED hosts live events and offers member benefits through KQED Live, generating revenue through event participation and membership perks.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
KQED product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KQED operates as the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California, producing and distributing public media content across multiple platforms. Its core offerings include local news and investigative journalism, live radio broadcasting on 88.5 FM, television programming on KQED 9, an extensive portfolio of original podcasts (The Bay, Political Breakdown, Bay Curious, Forum), original video series (Deep Look, Check, Please! Bay Area), and live community events. The organization is community-supported through memberships, donations, corporate underwriting, and foundation grants.
Product overview
KQED is a public media organization serving Northern California with a multi-platform portfolio consisting of KQED News (comprehensive regional journalism), KQED Radio broadcasting on 88.5 FM, and KQED TV featuring PBS and locally produced programming. The digital ecosystem includes an extensive podcast network (The Bay, Political Breakdown, Bay Curious, Forum), video series (Deep Look), local TV shows (Check, Please! Bay Area), and interactive features (KQED Crossword, Radio News Quiz). The organization operates KQED Live Events for in-person engagement and KQED Passport as a membership benefit for extended video access. Content coverage spans politics, science, arts, food, education, housing, criminal justice, and immigration, with dedicated Elections 2026 coverage for the Bay Area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KQED-FM: Public radio station broadcasting on 88.5 FM, providing news, culture, and entertainment programming to San Francisco Bay Area listeners
- KQED 9
- The Bay
- KQED Forum
- Political Breakdown
- Bay Curious
- Deep Look
- Check, Please! Bay Area
- Mindshift
Products and services
- KQED News Comprehensive regional news and investigative journalism service covering politics, science, arts, food, education, housing, criminal justice, immigration, and more for Northern California audiences across digital, radio, and television platforms.
- KQED Radio (88.5 FM) Live public radio broadcasting service on 88.5 FM providing news, culture, and entertainment programming to San Francisco Bay Area listeners, featuring NPR programs like Here & Now, All Things Considered, and local content including Forum.
- KQED TV (KQED 9) Public television broadcasting service on KQED 9 featuring PBS programming, national content from APT and other distributors, and KQED original local programs such as Check, Please! Bay Area and Deep Look.
- The Bay Podcast Original KQED local news podcast hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra providing context and analysis to make sense of Bay Area news, with episodes released three times per week.
- Political Breakdown Podcast Award-winning podcast covering California politics and government, co-hosted by Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer, accompanied by a weekly newsletter delivered to subscribers.
- Bay Curious Podcast Exploratory podcast answering listener questions about the Bay Area, with episodes that have earned the 2023 Excellence in Features Journalism Award and the 2023 Signal Award for Best Conversation Starter.
- KQED Forum Live public affairs radio show featuring in-depth discussions on current events, community issues, and guest interviews, also available as a podcast.
- Deep Look KQED original short-form video series exploring science and nature topics at the intersection of science and everyday life, distributed on television and digital platforms.
- Check, Please! Bay Area KQED original local television show where reviewers share their favorite Bay Area restaurants, exploring local cuisine and dining culture.
- KQED Live Events In-person events around the Bay Area featuring KQED journalists, community programming, and member-exclusive benefits through KQED Live.
- Elections 2026 Coverage Comprehensive coverage of key races and ballot measures across the nine Bay Area counties for the 2026 election cycle, including voter guides and political journalism.
- Youth Media KQED platform showcasing stories from young journalists and media creators, supporting youth media development and student journalism in Northern California.
- KQED Podcast Network Portfolio of KQED original podcasts covering local news (The Bay), California politics (Political Breakdown), Bay Area exploration (Bay Curious), public affairs (Forum), state news (California Report Magazine), and education (Mindshift), distributed through major podcast platforms.
Companies that use KQED
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
KQED technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
KQED partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- WOEMA (Western States Occupational Safety and Health Association)minorWOEMA filed a petition that led to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board's decision to advance rulemaking on artificial stone containing crystalline silica. KQED covered this investigation which was highlighted by Brayton Purcell LLP.
- ProPublicacoreKQED collaborated with ProPublica on investigative journalism, specifically on documenting teacher misconduct complaints in California. A joint investigation revealed how anyone can access hundreds of teacher misconduct complaints through public records requests.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreKQED is the NPR member station for Northern California. KQED's radio and online audiences' work is carried on NPR and other national outlets. Content is shared and distributed through the NPR network.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreKQED is the PBS member station for Northern California. KQED broadcasts PBS programming and also produces its own unique national and local programs that are distributed through the PBS network.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
KQED competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WNYC (New York Public Radio): Major-market NPR member station operating multiple radio frequencies, podcasts (Radiolab, On the Media), and digital journalism — directly comparable to KQED in multi-platform public radio and editorial ambition.
- LAist (Southern California Public Radio / KPCC): Southern California's NPR member station with comparable format mix of news, talk, podcasts, and digital journalism, serving another large California metro market alongside KQED's Northern California footprint.
- GBH (WGBH Boston): Combined NPR and PBS member station operating radio, television, and digital properties (Frontline, NOVA) — a structural analog to KQED as a dual-network public broadcaster in a major metro.
- WAMU 88.5 (American University Radio): Washington D.C. NPR member station with comparable news, talk, and podcast operations (1A), competing for similar audience and underwriter demographics as KQED.
- Minnesota Public Radio (APM Studios / MPR News): Large regional public radio network with multiple stations, podcast studios (APM), and classical/news formats — comparable to KQED in scale of broadcast and podcast operations.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Combined NPR and PBS affiliate serving Oregon and the Pacific Northwest with a similar radio + TV + digital portfolio — directly comparable regional public broadcaster to KQED.
- WETA (Washington, D.C.): PBS member station producing PBS NewsHour alongside local programming — comparable to KQED's television production capability and PBS affiliation economics.
Broad incumbents
- NPR (National Public Radio): National network to which KQED is an affiliate. NPR produces and distributes much of KQED's national programming and shapes the broader public media advertising and membership environment.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): National television network whose programming KQED 9 carries and into which KQED contributes original content; comparable at the network-versus-station layer of public media.
- ProPublica: National nonprofit investigative journalism outlet that has collaborated directly with KQED on local investigations; competes for philanthropic and audience attention in adjacent investigative segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KQED social profiles
Digital presenceKQED financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KQED leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
KQED subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
KQED funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KQED M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KQED
What does KQED do?
KQED operates as the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California, producing and distributing public media content across multiple platforms. Its core offerings include local news and investigative journalism, live radio broadcasting on 88.5 FM, television programming on KQED 9, an extensive portfolio of original podcasts (The Bay, Political Breakdown, Bay Curious, Forum), original video series (Deep Look, Check, Please! Bay Area), and live community events. The organization is community-supported through memberships, donations, corporate underwriting, and foundation grants.
Is KQED a public or private company?
KQED is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KQED founded?
KQED was founded in 1954. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is KQED based?
KQED is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does KQED make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship and events and Live Programming.
Who are KQED's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WNYC (New York Public Radio), LAist (Southern California Public Radio / KPCC), GBH (WGBH Boston), WAMU 88.5 (American University Radio), Minnesota Public Radio (APM Studios / MPR News), Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and WETA (Washington, D.C.). Broad incumbents are NPR (National Public Radio), PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and ProPublica.
Does KQED have an API?
No public API is recorded for KQED.
What industry is KQED in?
KQED's product category is Public Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style), with a secondary code of MPABABAB, Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.