The Young Turks

What The Young Turks does

The Young Turks (TYT) is an independent, privately-held progressive digital news and politics network founded in 2002 by Cenk Uygur and headquartered in Los Angeles. The company produces a portfolio of daily live and on-demand video shows anchored by The Young Turks, The Damage Report with John Iadarola, Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey, Rebel HQ, and Unbossed (hosted by former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner). Distribution spans the owned tyt.com platform, the theyoungturks YouTube channel, Twitch, podcast aggregators (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast), Pluto TV, and a 24/7 free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel on Amazon Prime Video launched in April 2026.

Underlying technology is a digital video streaming and live broadcast platform rather than a proprietary AI or data product. Key integrations include the YouTube API (used for membership login and authentication), Google/Facebook/Apple social sign-in, and a live show infrastructure powering daily broadcasts. There is no disclosed public-facing API, SDK, or MCP server, and no AI/ML capabilities are documented. The content stack emphasizes human-hosted political commentary, investigative reporting via the TYT Investigates unit, and community-driven features (polls, petitions, newsletters).

TYT operates a freemium consumer model with five revenue streams: recurring Plus membership subscriptions, advertising across YouTube and FAST channels, e-commerce merchandise sales through the wholly-owned ShopTYT subsidiary, branded sponsorships with progressive-aligned partners (Shopify, ZipRecruiter, CookUnity, Peace Corps), and direct donations accepted through ActBlue. The customer base is a long-tail audience of progressive and liberal-leaning news consumers, cord-cutters, and younger voters who consume politics through digital and streaming platforms. Pricing for the Plus membership is not publicly disclosed. The company has not disclosed any private equity or venture funding since its $20 million round led by 3L Capital in August 2017.

Name

The Young Turks

Legal name

The Young Turks, Inc.

Website

https://tyt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Young Turks is an independent, privately-held progressive digital news network producing daily video and podcast commentary distributed across YouTube, a 24/7 Amazon Prime Video FAST channel, Pluto TV, Twitch, and owned tyt.com, monetized via subscriptions, advertising, e-commerce, sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital News Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

News & Politics Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAG)

Keywords

• Progressive news network
• Digital news media
• Online political commentary
• Live news streaming
• Video podcast network

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: TYT offers Plus membership providing exclusive content, ad-free viewing, and member perks. The membership model is the primary recurring revenue stream, with sign-up through the website and integration with YouTube memberships.
2. Advertising: Free ad-supported content generates advertising revenue across YouTube, the FAST channel on Prime Video, and the TYT.com platform. Sponsors include brands aligned with progressive values.
3. E-commerce (ShopTYT): Merchandise sales through ShopTYT including apparel and branded products. Announcements reference member-only discounts and special promotions on merchandise.
4. Sponsorships: Sponsored content and promotional deals from partners including Peace Corps, Shopify, ZipRecruiter, CookUnity, and other brands. Sponsors receive access to TYT's engaged progressive audience.
5. Donations: Direct donations accepted through ActBlue, supporting TYT's independent progressive journalism and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Young Turks (TYT) operates an independent progressive digital news and politics network producing daily live news shows, podcasts, and on-demand video content. Its portfolio includes flagship shows The Young Turks, The Damage Report, Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey, and Rebel HQ, distributed across owned properties (tyt.com), YouTube, Twitch, a 24/7 FAST channel on Prime Video, Pluto TV, and podcast platforms. Revenue comes from advertising, a paid Plus Membership tier, sponsorships, donations via ActBlue, and branded merchandise through ShopTYT.

Product overview

TYT operates as a multi-platform independent news and politics network offering a portfolio of branded shows across video streaming, podcasts, and FAST channels. The core product lineup includes The Young Turks (flagship show), The Damage Report, Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey, and Rebel HQ. TYT distributes content through its own platform (tyt.com with live streaming and on-demand video), a 24/7 FAST channel on Prime Video, podcasts on third-party platforms, and YouTube. A paid Plus Membership provides ad-free viewing, bonus content, and merchandise discounts. The ecosystem also includes ShopTYT merchandise, TYT Investigates for investigative reporting, and an internship program. The company positions itself as the largest progressive news network in digital media.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Young Turks: Flagship show and original program hosted by Cenk Uygur featuring progressive political commentary and news analysis
• The Damage Report
• Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey
• Rebel HQ
• ShopTYT

Products and services

• The Young Turks Flagship daily live news show hosted by Cenk Uygur delivering progressive political commentary and analysis; one of the longest-running shows in digital media.
• The Damage Report Daily news and commentary show hosted by John Iadarola focused on political news, media criticism, and social justice issues with a progressive lens.
• Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey Daily talk show hosted by Dr. Rashad Richey covering politics, social justice, and cultural issues with a focus on underserved communities.
• Rebel HQ Programming block on TYT featuring news and political commentary, led by host David Shuster as part of TYT's expanded digital news coverage.
• Unbossed Daily show hosted by former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, focused on progressive politics and social justice advocacy.
• TYT 24/7 FAST Channel on Prime Video Free ad-supported streaming television channel on Amazon Prime Video offering 24/7 access to TYT programming including The Young Turks, The Damage Report, Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey, and Rebel HQ.
• TYT Plus Membership Paid membership tier providing exclusive benefits including ad-free viewing, bonus episodes, early access to content, exclusive live streams, and special merchandise discounts on ShopTYT.
• TYT Podcasts On-demand podcast versions of TYT shows available on platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Acast for audio news consumption.
• ShopTYT E-commerce merchandise storefront selling TYT-branded apparel, accessories, and specialty items, with member-only discounts for Plus subscribers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Google LLC (YouTube API Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationTYT utilizes YouTube API Services to offer membership services on tyt.com to paid YouTube subscribers, providing YouTube login functionality and email address storage. TYT's use is for wholly internal purposes and does not share information with external parties.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MeidasTouch Network: Progressive digital news network with a multi-host format (Meidas Brothers, Ben Meiselas) producing daily video commentary across YouTube and podcasts. Closely mirrors TYT's digital-first progressive news model and target audience.
• Crooked Media: Progressive political commentary network built around Pod Save America, with adjacent shows (Pod Save the People, Lovett or Leave It) distributed via podcast and video. Targets the same politically engaged progressive audience as TYT and competes for the same membership/subscription dollars.
• The Majority Report with Sam Seder: Long-running progressive political commentary show distributed via YouTube and podcast with a similar live-streamed daily format. Competes directly with TYT for the same progressive viewer demographic and uses a comparable multi-platform digital distribution strategy.
• The Daily Beast: Digital-first news and opinion outlet covering politics, culture, and current events with a progressive-to-center editorial slant. Competes with TYT for the same online political news reader/viewer and shares the multi-platform distribution approach.
• NowThis: Social-first digital news brand producing short-form progressive-leaning video content for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Targets the same politically engaged younger audience as TYT with an overlapping distribution footprint and similar news + politics + culture remit.
• The Intercept: Progressive investigative journalism outlet (founded by Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, Jeremy Scahill) covering politics, civil liberties, and national security. Competes with TYT's TYT Investigates vertical for the same progressive audience interested in in-depth political journalism.

Broad incumbents

• MSNBC: Established progressive-leaning cable news network with substantially larger production budget and on-air talent (Rachel Maddow, Joy Reid). Overlaps with TYT's progressive audience but distributes primarily through traditional cable plus streaming, with brand resources far beyond TYT's.
• Vox Media: Large digital media holding company operating Vox, SB Nation, The Verge, and Vulture with progressive editorial perspective. Overlaps with TYT on news and politics content but operates a much broader portfolio across sports, tech, and culture verticals.
• Vice Media: Digital-first media company producing news, documentary, and culture content for younger audiences across video, social, and owned platforms. Comparable to TYT in target demographic (Millennial/Gen Z) and progressive-leaning editorial perspective, though at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar: Independent digital political commentary show distributed via YouTube and podcast, featuring cross-partisan hosts covering news, populism, and culture. Targets a politically engaged audience that overlaps with TYT and competes for the same commentary-driven digital news viewership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theyoungturks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/theyoungturks
• Facebookfacebook.com/tytnation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-young-turks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Young Turks