Rhode Island PBS

What Rhode Island PBS does

Rhode Island PBS operates as Ocean State Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public media organization formed in 2024 through the merger of Rhode Island PBS (founded 1967) and The Public's Radio. The organization serves as Rhode Island's joint PBS and NPR member station, providing local television broadcasting, FM radio on 103.7 FM, and digital streaming to audiences across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Core products include live TV broadcasting via watch.ripbs.org, FM radio on 103.7 FM, locally produced shows (Rhode Island PBS Weekly, One on One with Ian Donnis, Ocean State Sessions, Animal Talk, Our Town), and the Ocean State Media Passport subscription streaming service priced at $5 monthly or $60 annually. Content spans national PBS programming (MASTERPIECE, Nature, FRONTLINE, Antiques Roadshow) alongside original local journalism across politics, immigration, climate, housing, health, education, and the economy.

The organization's technology stack consists of standard public broadcasting infrastructure: over-the-air television transmission via the PBS network (WSBE-TV), FM radio on 103.7 FM (NPR), cable distribution, and digital streaming via watch.ripbs.org and the PBS app. The business model is community-supported, with revenue generated primarily through individual member contributions and donations (starting at $5 monthly or $60 annually), corporate sponsorship and program underwriting from institutional partners including Johnson & Wales University, University of Rhode Island, and the Hilb Group, and the Passport subscription benefit. The organization distributes content across broadcast television, cable, FM radio, web streaming, mobile apps, and eight social media platforms, with email newsletters (The Daily Catch, TGIF Political Newsletter) supporting audience development. The editorial team unionized with SAG-AFTRA in June 2024.

Headquartered at 50 Park Lane in Providence, Rhode Island, Ocean State Media operates with 51-100 employees and reports no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds — consistent with its non-profit structure. Distribution reach covers Southeast New England, with no global footprint. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed.

Name

Rhode Island PBS

Legal name

Ocean State Media

Website

https://ripbs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ocean State Media (Rhode Island PBS) is Rhode Island's joint PBS/NPR public broadcaster, providing television, FM radio, and streaming content to audiences across Rhode Island and SE Massachusetts, funded through member donations, Passport subscriptions, and corporate underwriting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Television Networks & Member Stations (PBS-style) (MPABADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB), Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG), Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH)

Keywords

• Public broadcasting services
• Educational television
• Local news coverage
• Radio broadcasting
• Streaming media services

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Individual member contributions and donations form the primary revenue stream, with membership levels starting at $5 monthly or $60 annually. Members receive Passport streaming benefits as a thank-you for support.
2. Passport Streaming Subscription: Premium on-demand streaming service providing extended access to PBS programming. Offered as $5 monthly or $60 annual subscription, serving as both a member benefit and standalone revenue stream.
3. Sponsorship and Underwriting: Corporate sponsorship and program underwriting from local and national sponsors, including institutional partners such as Johnson & Wales University, University of Rhode Island, and the Hilb Group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rhode Island PBS, operating as Ocean State Media, is a non-profit public broadcaster providing live television (PBS-affiliated WSBE-TV), FM radio at 103.7 FM (NPR), and digital streaming via watch.ripbs.org. It produces local news, cultural, and educational programming and offers Passport, a paid member benefit ($5/month or $60/year) providing extended on-demand access to PBS and locally produced content.

Product overview

Ocean State Media operates as Rhode Island's joint NPR and PBS organization, functioning as a unified media platform that combines broadcast television, radio (103.7 FM), live streaming, and digital news content. The core offering includes live TV broadcasting and radio programming, supplemented by Ocean State Media Passport—a premium member benefit offering extended on-demand access to PBS and local programming. The organization produces local shows (Rhode Island PBS Weekly, One on One with Ian Donnis, Lively, Ocean State Sessions, Animal Talk, Our Town) and special coverage series (Breaking Point, Rhode to Independence). Content spans news categories including politics, immigration, climate, transportation, housing, health, education, economy, and arts/entertainment, delivered via broadcast, streaming platforms, and podcasts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean State Media (Rhode Island PBS) Public Broadcasting Service
• Live TV Streaming
• 103.7 FM Radio Broadcast
• Ocean State Media Passport
• Ocean State Media Podcasts

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Public's RadiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Rhode Island PBS and The Public's Radio completed a merger in 2024, consolidating local public media under the unified organization now known as Ocean State Media. This strategic combination created a single entity providing both television (PBS) and radio (NPR) content for the region.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation with PBS provides access to national programming catalog including MASTERPIECE, Nature, FRONTLINE, Antiques Roadshow, and other public television favorites. Station uses PBS branding, streaming infrastructure, and Passport membership system.
• Johnson & Wales UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution partner listed on the organization's 'Our Partners' page, indicating mutual promotional relationship.
• University of Rhode IslandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner listed on the organization's 'Our Partners' page, indicating mutual promotional relationship.
• Hilb GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and partner listed on the organization's website, providing sponsorship support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WGBH / GBH: GBH is Boston's flagship PBS/NPR public media organization, directly comparable as a joint television-and-radio public broadcaster serving the New England region with similar programming, Passport memberships, and community-supported funding model.
• Connecticut Public Broadcasting: Connecticut Public operates CPTV (television) and Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR) as a merged public media entity, making it a near-exact structural twin of Ocean State Media and a close comparable for funding, programming, and operational benchmarks.
• Vermont Public: Vermont Public is the merged entity of Vermont PBS and Vermont Public Radio, another New England public broadcaster that consolidated TV and radio under one nonprofit — directly comparable in structure, scale, and mission to Ocean State Media.
• Maine Public: Maine Public operates MPBN television and radio stations serving Maine with a PBS and NPR affiliate model, closely comparable in audience size, regional footprint, and member-supported funding mechanics.

Regional players

• New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR): NHPR is the primary NPR affiliate serving New Hampshire with comparable membership and underwriting revenue model; relevant because it shares the New England public radio landscape and competes for regional listener attention and underwriting dollars.
• WBUR (Boston University): WBUR is Boston's dominant NPR news station and competes directly with Ocean State Media's 103.7 FM radio product for listeners and members in southern New England. Comparable as a regional public radio outlet with news-heavy programming.

Broad incumbents

• WETA: WETA is the PBS flagship station for the Washington DC area and a larger, more established public broadcaster. Comparable as a PBS member station producing original content (e.g., PBS NewsHour) with a similar member-supported funding model.
• WNET (THIRTEEN): WNET is the New York City PBS flagship station, a larger established public broadcaster in the Northeast. Comparable as a PBS member station with Passport membership offerings and substantial content production capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rhodeislandpbs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/oceanstatemediari
• Facebookfacebook.com/RhodeIslandPBS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wsbe-rhode-island-pbs
• Instagraminstagram.com/ocean.state.media
• TikToktiktok.com/@oceanstatemedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Rhode Island PBS