Lakeshore Public Media
Lakeshore Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcaster operating WYIN-TV and WLPR 89.1 FM since 1987 to serve Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland with PBS, NPR, and locally produced programming, funded primarily through individual memberships, donations, and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersMerrillville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lakeshore Public Media does
Lakeshore Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcasting organization headquartered at 8625 Indiana Place, Merrillville, Indiana, operating continuously since 1987. It serves residents of Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland market through two core broadcast properties: WYIN, a PBS-affiliated television station on Channel 56, and WLPR 89.1 FM, a public radio station affiliated with NPR. The organization also distributes its programming through digital livestreaming and the Lakeshore PBS Passport on-demand video service for members. Beyond relaying national PBS, NPR, APM, BBC, and PRX content, it produces localized programming including BuildingBlocksInfo.org (early childhood education), Friends and Neighbors (community storytelling), and Eye on the Arts (cultural coverage).
The underlying technology consists of conventional broadcast infrastructure (over-the-air TV transmitter, FM radio transmitter) layered with digital distribution via a website livestream and a third-party-hosted PBS Passport streaming platform. There are no disclosed proprietary technology systems; the architecture is built on licensed broadcast spectrum and standard content delivery networks supplied by PBS/NPR-affiliated technology partners.
Lakeshore's business model is membership-driven nonprofit funding. Primary revenue streams include monthly and one-time individual donations starting at $10/month, federal support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), foundation grants (notably a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from Legacy Foundation in June 2024), planned giving and endowment contributions, and alternative giving programs such as vehicle donations. Content is free over the air and via free livestream; the premium Lakeshore PBS Passport tier is gated to dues-paying members. There are no enterprise customers, advertising-driven revenue lines, or commercial subscription paywalls described in the data.
Lakeshore Public Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lakeshore Public Media
- Legal name
- Lakeshore Public Media
- Website
- https://lakeshorepublicmedia.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lakeshore Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcaster operating WYIN-TV and WLPR 89.1 FM since 1987 to serve Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland with PBS, NPR, and locally produced programming, funded primarily through individual memberships, donations, and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lakeshore Public Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting Services
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
Keywords
Where Lakeshore Public Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Merrillville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lakeshore Public Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: Primary funding source through monthly and one-time donations from viewers and listeners. Members receive program guides and access to Lakeshore PBS Passport streaming service.
- Grants and Foundations: Funding from organizations such as Legacy Foundation through matching grants. Federal support through CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting).
- Planned Giving and Endowments: Long-term donation programs including endowment support and planned giving options for major donors.
- Vehicle Donation Program: Accepts vehicle donations as an alternative giving option.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Membership - $10/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Lakeshore PBS Passport Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Lakeshore Public Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lakeshore Public Media operates public television station WYIN (Channel 56) and radio station WLPR 89.1 FM, delivering PBS and NPR programming, local and statewide news, and educational content to Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. The organization provides free over-the-air broadcasts complemented by a member-based on-demand streaming service (Lakeshore PBS Passport) and supplementary programs for children, community storytelling, and arts coverage.
Product overview
Lakeshore Public Media operates as a unified public broadcasting platform offering television and radio services. The core product portfolio consists of WYIN-TV (Channel 56, television station) and WLPR 89.1 FM (radio station), which deliver local news, PBS programming, and public radio content to Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. Supporting offerings include Lakeshore PBS Passport (streaming VOD service for members), Live TV Streaming (online broadcast access), and specialty programs such as BuildingBlocksInfo.org (children's educational content), Friends and Neighbors (community stories), and Eye on the Arts (cultural coverage). A monthly Program Guide is distributed digitally to members via email.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WYIN Television Broadcast Television station WYIN (Channel 56) providing local news coverage, statewide news, PBS programming, documentaries, and national broadcast series to viewers across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. Includes a free digital livestream option.
- WLPR 89.1 FM Radio Broadcast Public radio station broadcasting at 89.1 FM providing NPR News, public radio programming, and simulcast WBAA News from Purdue University to Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland listeners.
- Lakeshore PBS Passport Video streaming service providing on-demand access to extended PBS content library for members of Lakeshore Public Media. Members receive access as a benefit of their monthly donations.
- Live TV Streaming Live broadcast streaming service allowing viewers to watch WYIN-TV content online in real-time through the Lakeshore Public Media website, free of charge.
- BuildingBlocksInfo.org Children's educational content platform providing resources for early childhood development, offered through the Lakeshore Public Media children's educational programming initiative.
- Friends and Neighbors Local community program showcasing stories about residents and community events in the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland broadcast area.
- Eye on the Arts Arts and culture program covering visual arts, performances, and cultural events in Northwest Indiana.
Companies that use Lakeshore Public Media
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lakeshore Public Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lakeshore Public Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- WBAA NewscoreWLPR 89.1 FM will begin simulcasting WBAA News 101.3 FM beginning July 6, securing continued access to trusted public radio programming in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)corePrimary television programming partner providing PBS content including educational programming, documentaries, and national broadcast series to WYIN television station.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreProvides NPR News content and national public radio programming to WLPR 89.1 FM and digital platforms.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lakeshore Public Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KQED: Large-scale Bay Area PBS/NPR member station with mature streaming, podcast, and digital products; serves as a broader incumbent reference point showing the scale-up pathway for a regional PBS/NPR operator like Lakeshore.
Direct peers
- WILL Illinois Public Media: PBS and NPR affiliate operated by the University of Illinois; comparable dual-platform model serving Illinois audiences with PBS programming and NPR news, similar in scope to Lakeshore's WYIN/WLPR combination.
- WCMU Public Media: PBS/NPR affiliate serving central and northern Michigan via WCMU-TV and WCMU-FM; closely comparable dual-platform member-supported regional public broadcaster in the Midwest.
- WFYI Public Media: Indianapolis-based dual-platform PBS/NPR affiliate operating WFYI-TV and WFYI 90.1 FM with member-supported funding; structurally comparable to Lakeshore as another Indiana-based community public broadcaster.
- WTTW: Major PBS member station serving the Chicago metropolitan area; directly comparable because it operates in the same Chicagoland market that Lakeshore Public Media also serves, competing for overlapping viewers and donors.
- WNIN Tri-State Public Media: PBS/NPR affiliate serving southwestern Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois from Evansville; structurally analogous member-supported public broadcaster with regional TV and radio operations.
- WVPE: PBS/NPR member station licensed to Elkhart Community Schools serving northern Indiana; comparable as a similarly-sized Indiana public broadcaster with overlapping regional audience.
- WBAA: Purdue University-licensed NPR member station and current content partner of Lakeshore Public Media; directly comparable as a regional public radio station whose news programming is now simulcast on WLPR 89.1 FM.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lakeshore Public Media social profiles
Digital presenceLakeshore Public Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lakeshore Public Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Lakeshore Public Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lakeshore Public Media 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 Lakeshore Public Media
What does Lakeshore Public Media do?
Lakeshore Public Media operates public television station WYIN (Channel 56) and radio station WLPR 89.1 FM, delivering PBS and NPR programming, local and statewide news, and educational content to Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. The organization provides free over-the-air broadcasts complemented by a member-based on-demand streaming service (Lakeshore PBS Passport) and supplementary programs for children, community storytelling, and arts coverage.
Is Lakeshore Public Media a public or private company?
Lakeshore Public Media is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lakeshore Public Media founded?
Lakeshore Public Media was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lakeshore Public Media based?
Lakeshore Public Media is headquartered in Merrillville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lakeshore Public Media make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants and Foundations, planned Giving and Endowments and vehicle Donation Program.
Who are Lakeshore Public Media's main competitors?
KQED is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are WILL Illinois Public Media, WCMU Public Media, WFYI Public Media, WTTW, WNIN Tri-State Public Media, WVPE and WBAA.
Does Lakeshore Public Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lakeshore Public Media.
What industry is Lakeshore Public Media in?
Lakeshore Public Media's product category is Public Broadcasting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.