KSPS PBS
KSPS PBS is a 501(c)(3) public television station in Spokane, Washington, broadcasting four over-the-air channels and streaming PBS programming to the Inland Northwest and Western Canada via a member-supported donation and underwriting model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersSpokane, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KSPS PBS does
KSPS PBS (legally "Friends of KSPS") is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public television station founded in 1967 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington, serving the Inland Northwest (Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho) and Western Canada. The station operates four free over-the-air broadcast subchannels — 7.1 KSPS PBS (main), 7.2 World Channel, 7.3 Create TV, and 7.4 PBS Kids 24/7 — and distributes programming digitally through the PBS App, YouTube TV integration, and a member-exclusive KSPS PBS Passport streaming service. Programming combines national PBS content (MASTERPIECE, Nature, PBS NewsHour) with locally produced regional shows such as At Issue, Northwest Profiles, Inland Sessions, Washington Grown, and Health Matters.
The station's revenue model is member-supported and diversified across five streams: individual memberships and donations ($5/month or $60/year, gated to Passport benefits), corporate underwriting and sponsorships, planned giving and major gifts, federal funding via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and ancillary merchandise and auction sales. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on pledge drives, volunteer programs, and partnerships in education, workforce development (e.g., Career Explore NW), arts and culture, and civic health, formalized in a 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. The station also operates a Calgary office to support Canadian members and Passport Canada services, giving it a U.S.–Canada dual-market footprint unusual for a regional PBS affiliate.
KSPS PBS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KSPS PBS
- Legal name
- Friends of KSPS
- Website
- https://ksps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KSPS PBS is a 501(c)(3) public television station in Spokane, Washington, broadcasting four over-the-air channels and streaming PBS programming to the Inland Northwest and Western Canada via a member-supported donation and underwriting model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KSPS PBS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Television Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- 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 Television Networks & Member Stations (PBS-style) (MPABADAA), Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds) (MPABADAI)
Keywords
Where KSPS PBS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spokane
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
KSPS PBS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: Primary revenue stream from individual member contributions including annual pledges, monthly giving, and one-time donations. Members receive benefits including KSPS PBS Passport streaming access.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Business sponsorships and corporate support relationships with local and regional businesses, including program underwriting and event sponsorships.
- Planned Giving and Major Gifts: Deferred giving programs including bequests, charitable trusts, and major individual donations from high-value supporters.
- Federal and State Funding: Government funding including Corporation for Public Broadcasting allocations and potential state-level surcharges on telecommunications to support public broadcasting operations.
- Merchandise and Auction Sales: Online shop sales and annual auction events featuring donated items, with proceeds supporting station operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Membership with Passport |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership with Passport |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Over-the-Air Viewing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
KSPS PBS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KSPS PBS is a non-profit public television station based in Spokane, WA, operating under the entity "Friends of KSPS," a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1967. It delivers educational, cultural, and informational television programming across four channels (7.1 KSPS PBS, 7.2 World Channel, 7.3 Create TV, and 7.4 PBS Kids 24/7) via over-the-air broadcast, online streaming, and the PBS App.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KSPS PBS Multi-Channel Broadcast
Companies that use KSPS PBS
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KSPS PBS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
KSPS PBS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreNational public broadcasting network affiliation providing access to PBS programming, national content distribution, brand affiliation, and shared technology platforms including PBS App and streaming infrastructure.
- Vermont Public Television (Presented Made Here Program)minorCo-presentation of the Made Here regional filmmaker showcase program featuring local stories produced by community filmmakers.
- WVIA (Presented Short Takes Program)minorCo-presentation of the Short Takes documentary series featuring local and regional content from Pennsylvania and beyond.
- Career Explore NWcoreWorkforce development initiative partnering to strengthen career exploration and workforce readiness in the Inland Northwest region through the station's community engagement pillar.
- American Public Television (Distributor for After Auschwitz)minorNational distribution partnership for syndicated documentary content produced or presented by KSPS PBS, such as After Auschwitz.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KSPS PBS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KCTS 9 (Seattle): Cross-town Pacific Northwest PBS member station operated by Cascade Public Media; directly comparable as a regional PBS affiliate with multi-channel subchannel lineup, Passport membership model, and educational programming focus serving a similar Northwestern U.S. audience.
- OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting): Adjacent regional PBS member station serving Oregon and Southern Washington; comparable in mission, multi-channel broadcast, Passport streaming, and community-supported public media model in a similar Pacific Northwest media market.
- Idaho Public Television: Statewide PBS member network based in Boise; closely comparable as a smaller-market public television operator with multi-channel broadcast, educational programming, and member/donation-driven revenue in an adjacent Northwestern geography that overlaps KSPS's Inland Northwest coverage.
- Montana PBS: Montana's PBS member network serving a comparably rural Western market; directly comparable in scale, multi-channel broadcast structure, Passport membership, and dependence on membership plus state/federal funding.
Broad incumbents
- KQED (San Francisco): One of the largest and most influential PBS member stations in the U.S.; comparable as a PBS affiliate with multi-channel broadcast, Passport streaming, and original local production, though at significantly greater scale and budget than KSPS.
- WGBH (Boston): Flagship PBS producer and Boston member station; comparable in PBS member station operations, multi-channel broadcast, and Passport streaming, but operates as a national content producer rather than a purely local broadcaster like KSPS.
- WNET (New York): New York metro PBS member station and major national content producer (THIRTEEN, WLIW21); comparable PBS affiliate with multi-channel distribution and Passport membership, though operating at much larger scale in a major media market.
Others
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): National network with which KSPS is affiliated; not a peer competitor but a parent/partner that provides programming, PBS App infrastructure, and Passport technology platform that KSPS leverages for its streaming and multi-channel operations.
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): Federal funding entity that allocates Community Service Grants to KSPS and other PBS member stations; an ecosystem participant whose appropriations decisions materially shape KSPS's operating budget and strategic capacity.
- American Public Television (APT): Distributor of public television programming that has partnered with KSPS on national distribution of locally produced content (e.g., After Auschwitz); an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, comparable in the public television value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KSPS PBS social profiles
Digital presenceKSPS PBS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KSPS PBS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KSPS PBS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KSPS PBS 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 KSPS PBS
What does KSPS PBS do?
KSPS PBS is a non-profit public television station based in Spokane, WA, operating under the entity "Friends of KSPS," a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1967. It delivers educational, cultural, and informational television programming across four channels (7.1 KSPS PBS, 7.2 World Channel, 7.3 Create TV, and 7.4 PBS Kids 24/7) via over-the-air broadcast, online streaming, and the PBS App.
Is KSPS PBS a public or private company?
KSPS PBS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KSPS PBS founded?
KSPS PBS was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KSPS PBS based?
KSPS PBS is headquartered in Spokane, United States, in the North America region.
How does KSPS PBS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships, planned Giving and Major Gifts, federal and State Funding and merchandise and Auction Sales.
Who are KSPS PBS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KCTS 9 (Seattle), OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting), Idaho Public Television and Montana PBS. Broad incumbents are KQED (San Francisco), WGBH (Boston) and WNET (New York). Others are PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and American Public Television (APT).
Does KSPS PBS have an API?
No public API is recorded for KSPS PBS.
What industry is KSPS PBS in?
KSPS PBS's product category is Public Television Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABADAA, National Public Television Networks & Member Stations (PBS-style). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.