Regional News Network

What Regional News Network does

Regional News Network (RNN) is a privately-held broadcast media company operating the largest group of independent television stations in the United States. Founded in 1993 by Richard E. "Dick" French, Jr., the company has grown from a single Hudson Valley broadcast station reaching fewer than 250,000 homes into a 10-station portfolio spanning eight of the top-ten US Designated Market Areas: New York (WRNN-TV), Los Angeles (KSCI), Philadelphia (WMCN-TV, WTVE), Boston (WWDP-TV, WMFP), Washington DC (WMDE-TV), Dallas (KFWD), San Francisco (KCNS), and Houston (KUBE). RNN states a total reach of 86MM+ over-the-air population and coverage of more than 28% of households within the top-ten DMAs, supplemented by the RISE Television cable network carried on Time Warner and Verizon FiOS.

The company's core technology is its portfolio of FCC-licensed full-power television stations, each broadcasting a primary channel alongside multiple digital multicast sub-channels. This sub-channel architecture allows RNN to operate as a wholesale distribution platform, placing third-party programming networks on dedicated sub-channels across its markets and providing value-added services including cross-platform promotion, targeted advertisement campaign management, signal reception and quality control, commercial insertion, and master control. Programming partner rosters span shopping networks (QVC2, ShopLC, Jewelry TV), religious broadcasters (Son Life, Universal Church), and international content providers (SBS International, Mun Hwa, Arirang, New Tang, CTS America, YTV America).

RNN operates as a B2B business with no consumer-facing product or pricing. Revenue is generated through three streams: advertising sales to national and regional advertisers seeking reach across the 86MM+ over-the-air audience; paid programming slots sold to networks and content providers; and programming distribution/licensing fees charged to networks placed on RNN's multicast sub-channels and RISE Television. The company is entrepreneur-owned with no institutional, private equity, or venture capital backing disclosed; leadership is family-controlled, with founder Dick French, Jr. as President and CEO, Richard French III as President of News and Programming, and Christian J. French as Chief Operating Officer. Headcount is reported at 51-100 employees, supporting a lean operating model relative to the station footprint.

Name

Regional News Network

Legal name

Regional News Network

Website

https://rnntv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Regional News Network is a privately-held broadcast company operating the largest independent TV station group in the US, with 10 full-power stations across 8 of the top-10 DMAs and the RISE Television cable network, serving programming partners and advertisers seeking nationwide over-the-air and cable distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Broadcasting Services

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Local TV Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Program Distribution to Stations & Affiliates (Domestic) (MPABAMAC)

Keywords

• Independent broadcast television
• Multicast sub-channel distribution
• Over-the-air broadcasting
• Cable television networks
• Programming distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rye

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: RNN generates advertising revenue from national and local advertisers seeking exposure across its broadcast station portfolio covering major US markets.
2. Paid Programming: RNN offers paid programming slots on its stations, generating revenue from networks and content providers seeking broadcast distribution.
3. Programming Distribution Fees: RNN charges programming partners for distribution on its multicast sub-channels, providing international networks with U.S. over-the-air and cable distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Regional News Network (RNN) owns and operates a portfolio of independent full-power broadcast television stations with multicast digital sub-channel capabilities across major US Designated Market Areas (DMAs). The company provides distribution infrastructure to programming networks—including international networks seeking US market entry—and generates revenue by selling advertising and paid programming slots across its broadcast station portfolio.

Product overview

RNN operates as a portfolio of independent broadcast TV stations across major U.S. markets. The portfolio consists of 11 full-power stations (WRNN-TV New York, KSCI Los Angeles, WMCN-TV Philadelphia, WTVE Philadelphia, KFWD Dallas, KCNS San Francisco, WMDE-TV D.C., KUBE Houston, WWDP-TV Boston, WMFP Boston) plus RISE Television cable network. Each station broadcasts a primary channel with multiple digital sub-channels carrying programming from various content partners. RNN's infrastructure includes production and distribution capabilities serving the NYC DMA and expanding markets. Founded in 1993 with a single Hudson Valley station, RNN has grown to cover more than 28% of households within eight of the top-ten DMAs with total reach exceeding 86MM over-the-air pops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RISE Television: A cable network distributed on Time Warner, Verizon FiOS and over the air on WRNN-TV DT2. Provides international networks access to US viewers and advertising opportunities.

Products and services

• WRNN-TV Full power TV station with full distribution in the New York market broadcasting from One World Trade Center on Channel 48. Primary channel broadcasts at 48.1 with programming partners including TBD, The 365, Outlaw, and QVC2 on sub-channels.
• KSCI

Quantifiable outcome

• 86MM+ over-the-air population reach
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TBD (Stadium)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming partner broadcasting on WRNN-TV sub-channel 48.2. Stadium network content distributed through RNN's New York market station.
• The 365coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming partner distributed across multiple RNN stations including WRNN-TV (48.3), WMCN-TV (44.2), WMDE-TV (36.5).
• QVC2coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShopping network programming partner on WRNN-TV sub-channel 48.5 and WTVE sub-channel 52.4.
• The 365coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming partner distributed on WWDP-TV Boston sub-channel 46.2.
• OutlawcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming network partner on WWDP-TV (46.3), WMCN-TV (44.3), WMDE-TV (36.6), WRNN-TV (48.4).
• ShopLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShopping network programming partner on WWDP-TV (46.4), WMCN-TV (44.7), WMDE-TV (36.8), KUBE (57.4).
• Retro TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClassic television programming network partner on WWDP-TV (46.5), WMDE-TV (36.4), KFWD (52.4).
• Heartland NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional programming network distributed on WWDP-TV (46.6), WMCN-TV (44.4), WMDE-TV (36.3), KFWD (52.2).
• DefycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming network partner on WMDE-TV sub-channel 36.2 in Washington DC market.
• ArirangcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorean international broadcasting network distributed on WMDE-TV sub-channel 36.7.
• CRTVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConservative programming network partner on WMDE-TV (36.9) and WTVE (52.2).
• Time Warner CablecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable distributor carrying RNN's RISE Television network alongside traditional cable subscribers.
• Verizon FiOScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable/IPTV provider distributing RNN's RISE Television network to FiOS subscribers.
• ACE TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming network distributed on KUBE Houston sub-channel 57.2 and WTVE sub-channel 52.3.
• Son LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReligious programming network distributed on multiple RNN stations including KUBE (57.3), KCNS (38.3), KSCI (20.1), WMFP (62.2).
• Jewelry TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJewelry shopping network programming partner on KUBE (57.8) and KFWD (52.5).
• Universal ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReligious broadcast programming on KUBE (57.9) and KFWD (52.6).
• New TangcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChinese-language international programming network distributed on KCNS San Francisco sub-channels 38.5 and 38.6 (English version).
• Sky LinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming network partner on KCNS sub-channel 38.2.
• KMPTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgramming network on KCNS sub-channel 32.1.
• SBS InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational broadcasting network partner on KSCI Los Angeles sub-channel 18.2.
• Mun Hwa BroadcastingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorean media network distributed on KSCI sub-channel 18.3.
• YTV AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth television programming network on KSCI sub-channel 18.4.
• CTS AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian television programming network on KSCI sub-channel 18.8.
• MeTV ToonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClassic animation programming network distributed on WMFP Boston sub-channel 62.3.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sinclair Broadcast Group: Largest US TV station operator by station count with multi-DMA broadcast holdings and aggressive sub-channel distribution including Stadium, Comet, Charge! and TBD networks — directly comparable business model of acquiring and operating full-power stations plus monetizing multicast sub-channels.
• Nexstar Media Group: Largest US local TV broadcaster with ~200 stations across 116 markets following the Tribune acquisition; offers the closest comparable on national footprint, retransmission economics, and partnership-driven content distribution across sub-channels and cable networks (e.g., NewsNation).
• Tegna: Portfolio of major-market independent affiliates reaching ~80% of US households through 64 stations; provides a directly comparable multi-DMA top-market broadcast footprint with ad sales, sub-channel distribution, and content partnership mechanics similar to RNN.
• Gray Television: Rapidly grown broadcast group with ~180 stations across 80+ markets; competes head-to-head with RNN for sub-channel programming partnerships and uses adjacent comparable tactics around multicast monetization and station roll-ups in mid-sized markets.
• E.W. Scripps Company: Operator of ~40 local stations plus ION, which was acquired in 2021 specifically to leverage sub-channel and multicast distribution — most direct competitor in the model of owning major-market stations and a national multicast programming network.
• Hearst Television: Private, family-controlled broadcast subsidiary of Hearst Corporation with 30+ stations covering ~40% of US households; directly comparable as a privately-held, top-market-focused TV station group with similar ad sales and partnership structures.
• Weigel Broadcasting: Family-owned independent station group operating in mid-sized markets with a focused sub-channel strategy (MeTV, Decades, Heroes & Icons, MeTV Toons, Start TV) — directly comparable in the niche of multicast-driven independent broadcasting with no network affiliation dependency.
• Cox Media Group: Privately-held broadcaster with full-power stations in markets including Atlanta, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Boston; comparable in structure as a multi-DMA independent-owned station portfolio with shared ad sales infrastructure.
• ION Television (Scripps): Nationally distributed multicast-only network now owned by Scripps; a directly comparable strategy of monetizing sub-channel inventory across a national footprint and offering content partners distribution scale without requiring full-power station ownership.
• Block Communications: Private family-controlled holding company operating full-power stations such as WJW Cleveland, KIII Corpus Christi, and CW affiliates; comparable as a smaller, family-owned TV station owner competing in the same independent broadcaster category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rnn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Regional News Network