CapRadio
CapRadio is a non-profit NPR member public radio station serving Northern California across 8 FM frequencies, delivering local news, NPR national programming, and classical and jazz music to Sacramento-area listeners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CapRadio does
CapRadio, formally Capital Public Radio, is a non-profit public radio station headquartered in Sacramento, California, licensed to California State University, Sacramento. Founded in 1979, the station operates across eight FM frequencies covering Northern California including the Sacramento region, Lake Tahoe/Reno, Stockton/Modesto, Quincy, Groveland/Sonora, and Sutter/Yuba City. It produces and distributes local news on state government, the Sacramento region, environment, health care, housing, education, and arts, alongside NPR national programming and locally curated classical and jazz music. Sub-brands include Classical, JazzStream, and ClassicalStream, with content available via FM broadcast, live streaming at player.capradio.org, mobile applications for iOS and Android, smart speaker integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and on-demand podcasts.
CapRadio's underlying technology consists of traditional FM broadcasting infrastructure complemented by digital streaming platforms. The station maintains FCC broadcast licenses for seven stations (KXJZ, KKTO, KUOP, KQNC, KXPR, KXSR, and KXJS), giving it a regulated distribution footprint that is difficult to replicate. As an NPR member station, CapRadio accesses national journalism and syndicated programming while layering local reporting and music curation on top.
The station's revenue model is characteristic of U.S. public radio: free-to-listener service funded by voluntary listener donations and memberships (including evergreen, one-time, vehicle, stock, and legacy giving), corporate underwriting/sponsorship in lieu of traditional advertising, and public broadcasting grants (including CPB funding). Content is distributed across eight FM frequencies, global online streaming, mobile apps, smart speakers, and podcasts, with marketing conducted through its website, email newsletters (SacramenKnow), social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), and community events. The organization has between 101 and 250 employees and is led by President & General Manager Frank Maranzino.
CapRadio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CapRadio
- Legal name
- Capital Public Radio
- Website
- https://capradio.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CapRadio is a non-profit NPR member public radio station serving Northern California across 8 FM frequencies, delivering local news, NPR national programming, and classical and jazz music to Sacramento-area listeners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CapRadio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB), News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD)
Keywords
Where CapRadio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CapRadio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Listener Donations/Membership: Voluntary contributions from listeners through one-time donations, evergreen donations, and membership programs. Members receive benefits such as newsletters and thank-you gifts.
- Corporate Underwriting/Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorships and underwriting messages that acknowledge supporter contributions without traditional advertising. Includes vehicle donation programs and stock giving options.
- Public Broadcasting Grants: Funding from public broadcasting sources including CPB and partnerships with other public media entities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
CapRadio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CapRadio is a non-profit public radio station that produces and distributes local and regional news, NPR national programming, classical music, and jazz content to listeners across Northern California. Programming is delivered via eight FM broadcast frequencies, web streaming, mobile apps, smart speakers, and on-demand podcasts.
Product overview
CapRadio operates as a multi-platform public radio network offering a unified portfolio of news and music programming. The core offerings include: (1) News Programming covering California state government, Sacramento region, environment, health care, housing, race and equity, arts, education, and food/sustainability topics; (2) Music Programming featuring classical and jazz formats through dedicated channels including Excellence in Jazz and Local Artist Features; (3) Live Streaming via player.capradio.org for real-time radio listening; (4) Mobile Apps for iOS and Android; (5) Smart Speaker Integration for Alexa and Google Home; and (6) Podcasts & Shows for on-demand consumption. The station broadcasts on multiple FM frequencies across Northern California (90.9 FM Sacramento, 90.5 FM Tahoe/Reno, 91.3 FM Stockton/Modesto, 88.1 FM Quincy for news; 88.9 FM Sacramento, 91.7 FM Groveland/Sonora, 88.7 FM Sutter/Yuba City for music).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Classical: Classical music programming
- JazzStream
- ClassicalStream
Products and services
- News Programming Locally-produced news coverage of State Government, Sacramento Region, Environment, Health Care, Housing and Homelessness, Race and Equity, Arts and Lifestyle, Education, and Food and Sustainability, plus NPR national news content, distributed to Northern California listeners.
- Classical Music Programming
- Jazz Programming
- Podcasts & Shows
Companies that use CapRadio
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CapRadio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CapRadio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- KVIEminorCapRadio and KVIE settled lawsuits related to broadcasting towers. Both are public media stations in the Sacramento region.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreCapRadio is an NPR member station, distributing NPR news content and national programming to its local audience. The partnership includes access to NPR journalists, news reports, and nationally syndicated programs.
- California State University, SacramentocoreCapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). This institutional relationship provides educational ties and community connection to the university.
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission)coreCapRadio operates under FCC public files and licenses. The station maintains compliance with FCC public file requirements for KXJZ, KKTO, KUOP, KQNC, KXPR, KXSR, and KXJS stations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CapRadio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KQED: KQED is the NPR member station for the San Francisco Bay Area, providing public radio news, talk, and music programming. As a fellow California NPR affiliate with a multi-station footprint, it is the closest geographic peer to CapRadio and competes for statewide listener attention, donor bases, and underwriting relationships.
- LAist (formerly KPCC): LAist is Southern California's flagship NPR member station, operated by Southern California Public Radio. It shares the non-profit public radio model with multi-station FM distribution, NPR programming carriage, and listener-donation revenue mix — directly comparable to CapRadio's structure.
- KCRW: KCRW is a Santa Monica-based public radio station known for music programming (eclectic, jazz, classical) and independent news, licensed to Santa Monica College. It shares the NPR/independent programming mix and music-format emphasis with CapRadio's classical and jazz offerings.
- WNYC: WNYC is New York City's flagship public radio station operated by New York Public Radio, distributing news, talk, and classical music via FM stations. It operates the same multi-station, multi-format (news + classical) public radio model as CapRadio at larger scale.
- WBUR: WBUR is Boston's NPR member station licensed to Boston University, producing local and national news programming. The university license, NPR membership, and news-focused format make it a strong structural peer to CapRadio's CSUS-licensed, NPR-affiliated operation.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): OPB is Oregon's public broadcasting network operating multiple FM and TV stations across the state, licensed to Oregon State University. It shares the multi-station state-network structure, university license, and mixed news/music programming model with CapRadio.
- KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio: KUOW is Seattle's NPR member station, providing news, talk, and music programming in the Pacific Northwest. As a regional NPR affiliate with strong local news focus, it is directly comparable to CapRadio's regional news and NPR programming strategy.
- Colorado Public Radio (CPR): CPR operates classical, news, and indie music stations across Colorado with NPR affiliation. Its multi-format (news + classical + music) multi-station approach mirrors CapRadio's structure and content mix.
- New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR): NHPR is New Hampshire's statewide NPR member station providing news, talk, and classical programming. As a smaller, geographically-defined NPR affiliate with mixed news/music format, it is comparable in scale and model to CapRadio.
- Vermont Public Radio (VPR): VPR is Vermont's statewide NPR member station offering news, talk, and classical music programming. Comparable in scale, mission, and listener-supported model to CapRadio, with similar multi-format programming and nonprofit funding structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CapRadio social profiles
Digital presenceCapRadio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CapRadio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CapRadio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CapRadio 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 CapRadio
What does CapRadio do?
CapRadio is a non-profit public radio station that produces and distributes local and regional news, NPR national programming, classical music, and jazz content to listeners across Northern California. Programming is delivered via eight FM broadcast frequencies, web streaming, mobile apps, smart speakers, and on-demand podcasts.
Is CapRadio a public or private company?
CapRadio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CapRadio founded?
CapRadio was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CapRadio based?
CapRadio is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does CapRadio make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations/Membership is the primary driver. The others are corporate Underwriting/Sponsorship and public Broadcasting Grants.
Who are CapRadio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KQED, LAist (formerly KPCC), KCRW, WNYC, WBUR, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio (CPR), New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and Vermont Public Radio (VPR).
Does CapRadio have an API?
No public API is recorded for CapRadio.
What industry is CapRadio in?
CapRadio's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus), with a secondary code of MPABABAB, Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.