What KLCS does

KLCS is a nonprofit public television station founded in 1972 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, operating as the local PBS affiliate for the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The station is operated in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and broadcasts over-the-air on multiple channels, including a Create TV arts-and-crafts subchannel (58.3). Its technology stack combines traditional broadcast transmission with digital livestreaming through watch.klcs.org and the PBS app, alongside an on-demand membership streaming product called KLCS Passport.

The station's product portfolio centers on educational, cultural, and entertainment programming sourced from PBS (Masterpiece, Grantchester, Astrid, documentaries) and supplemented by original local productions such as Everybody, Sustaining US, and Wellness Program Presents: Nutritious Bites. Children's educational content is delivered via the PBS Kids sub-brand, and the station maintains close integration with LAUSD for STEAM resources, teacher materials, and wellness programming.

KLCS operates on a public media funding model rather than a commercial revenue model. Its revenue streams are memberships and viewer donations, corporate underwriting/sponsorships, and a car donation program via klcs.careasy.org. Distribution is multi-platform — free over-the-air broadcast for LA-area viewers, plus global streaming through its website and the PBS app — while audience segments span general LA-area viewers seeking educational and cultural content and the LAUSD education ecosystem (students, teachers, parents). The station is staffed by 11-50 employees and does not disclose financials publicly beyond FCC-mandated filings.

Name

KLCS

Legal name

KLCS

Website

https://klcs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KLCS is a nonprofit PBS affiliate public television station in Los Angeles, operated in partnership with LAUSD, delivering educational, cultural, and children's programming via over-the-air broadcast, Create TV subchannel, and digital streaming under a member-donation funding model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG), Public/Nonprofit Children’s Educational Broadcasters (MPABAKAF), Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH), Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• PBS affiliate station
• Educational programming
• Community media
• Arts and culture programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Public media funding model based on viewer memberships and charitable donations from the community
2. Corporate Underwriting: Sponsorships and underwriting from corporate donors supporting public media programming
3. Car Donations: Vehicle donation program allowing supporters to contribute assets to the station

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KLCS is a non-profit public television station operated in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) that broadcasts educational, cultural, and entertainment programming to the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The station distributes national PBS content alongside original local productions such as 'Everybody' and 'Sustaining US,' children's programming via PBS KIDS, and arts/crafts content through its Create TV subchannel (58.3), with supplementary streaming access via KLCS Passport and watch.klcs.org.

Product overview

KLCS is a public television station operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), offering a multi-channel broadcast portfolio centered on its main KLCS TV channel. The station provides educational and entertainment programming including drama series (Grantchester, Astrid), documentaries (All Too Clear, American Muslims: A History Revealed), and extensive cooking content. Supplementary services include KLCS Passport (membership streaming), KLCS Live Stream (online viewing), and Create TV (a sub-channel focusing on arts and cooking programming at 58.3). PBS KIDS programming serves children's audiences, while original local productions like Everybody and Sustaining US round out the portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KLCS TV Broadcast Free over-the-air public television channel serving the Los Angeles area, broadcasting PBS programming including drama series (Grantchester, Astrid), documentaries (All Too Clear, American Muslims: A History Revealed), and news and public affairs content.
• KLCS Passport A membership/streaming add-on offering KLCS supporters extended on-demand access to PBS programming library content beyond standard broadcast schedules.
• Create TV KLCS subchannel broadcasting Create TV arts, crafts, cooking, and how-to programming 24/7, including shows like Dining with the Chef, How to Cook Well with Rory O'Connell, and Julie Taboulie's Lebanese Kitchen.
• KLCS Live Stream Digital livestream service that lets viewers watch KLCS programming live online via watch.klcs.org, accessible globally through web browsers and the PBS app.
• KLCS Productions Original locally-produced programming produced by the KLCS production team, including 'Everybody' and 'Sustaining US,' designed for the Los Angeles community audience.
• PBS KIDS Children's educational programming block featuring age-appropriate PBS KIDS content for younger viewers, supplemented by educational resources such as STEAM materials and parent/teacher guides.
• Wellness Program Presents: Nutritious Bites An educational local series produced in partnership with the Los Angeles School District's Wellness Programs that teaches children and families about nutritious eating and healthy food choices.

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.

• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKLCS operates as a PBS affiliate station, distributing PBS programming including Masterpiece series, educational shows, and children's programming. The partnership provides access to national public media content while KLCS serves as the local distribution partner for the Los Angeles market.
• LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLCS partners with Los Angeles Unified School District to provide educational resources including STEAM materials, PBS Kids content, teacher guides, and School to College & Career resources. The station links to LAUSD News and maintains educational programming partnerships.
• Create TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKLCS broadcasts Create TV programming on subchannel 58.3, featuring arts and crafts instructional content, cooking shows, and how-to programming. Create TV is a national public media service distributed through PBS affiliate stations.
• Protect My Public MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLCS participates in Protect My Public Media, a coalition of public media stations advocating for public broadcasting funding and protection of public media services.
• L.A. School District Wellness ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLCS produces 'Wellness Program Presents: Nutritious Bites' in partnership with the Los Angeles School District's Wellness Programs, an educational series teaching children and families about nutritious eating and healthy food choices.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KCET: KCET is the other major public television station serving the Los Angeles market. It operates as an independent public media outlet broadcasting educational and cultural programming, making it the closest direct competitor to KLCS in the same DMA with similar PBS-affiliated programming.
• WGBH (GBH): WGBH is one of the largest PBS member stations in the U.S., producing national programming including Frontline, Masterpiece, and Nova. It is directly comparable to KLCS as a PBS-affiliated public television station with original production capabilities and educational programming.
• KQED: KQED is the PBS member station serving the San Francisco Bay Area, providing educational programming, PBS Kids content, and original local productions. It is directly comparable to KLCS in scale, structure, and mission as a regional PBS affiliate with educational focus.
• WNET (THIRTEEN): WNET is the PBS member station serving the New York metropolitan area and operates multiple channels including THIRTEEN, WLIW21, and Create TV. It is directly comparable to KLCS as a multi-channel PBS affiliate with educational programming and local productions.
• WTTW: WTTW is the PBS member station serving the Chicago metropolitan area, providing educational programming, children's content, and original productions. It is directly comparable to KLCS as a regional PBS affiliate with similar mission and programming mix.
• WETA: WETA is the PBS member station serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, producing national PBS programming including PBS NewsHour. It is comparable to KLCS as a regional PBS affiliate with significant original production capabilities serving a major U.S. market.

Broad incumbents

• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): PBS is the national public television network of which KLCS is an affiliate. It is comparable as the overarching broadcasting organization that provides national programming content distributed through member stations like KLCS.
• Create TV: Create TV is a national public media channel featuring arts, crafts, and how-to programming, distributed through PBS affiliate stations including KLCS on subchannel 58.3. It is comparable as a programming network partner that shares distribution infrastructure with KLCS.
• PBS Kids: PBS Kids is the national children's educational programming brand distributed through PBS member stations including KLCS. It is comparable as a content partner providing educational children's programming that KLCS broadcasts to its audience.

Emerging players

• American Public Television (APT): American Public Television is a content distributor that supplies programming to public television stations including PBS affiliates. It is comparable to KLCS as a participant in the public media distribution ecosystem, though it operates as a syndicator rather than a station.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/KLCSTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/KLCSTV
• Instagraminstagram.com/klcs_publicmedia
• Xx.com/klcs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/klcs-pbs-la

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 KLCS