WSKG-FM
WSKG Public Media is a nonprofit NPR and PBS member station operating ten broadcast outlets across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, delivering news, classical music, educational programming, and PBS content via radio, TV subchannels, and digital streaming to local listeners and viewers supported by member donations, underwriting, and CPB funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersVestal, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WSKG-FM does
WSKG Public Media (operating as WSKG-FM) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public broadcasting organization founded in 1961 and headquartered at 601 Gates Road in Vestal, New York, with a satellite office in Ithaca. It operates as a member station of both NPR and PBS, running ten broadcast outlets across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania — covering 21 counties via FM radio frequencies (WSKG news and WSKG Classical on multiple transmitters), television broadcast channels 46.1/30.1, and four subchannels (PBS Kids, Create TV, World Channel). The underlying technology is conventional over-the-air broadcast radio and TV transmission infrastructure augmented by 24/7 live streaming on wskg.org, the PBS video streaming app across Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, and mobile, plus NPR One distribution. Core products include WSKG Radio (news/talk), WSKG Classical, WSKG TV (PBS-affiliated with local programming), WSKG Passport (a streaming member-benefit product delivering on-demand PBS and WSKG video), WSKG Education services, and locally produced WSKG News reporting.
WSKG's business model is a hybrid of three revenue streams typical of community public broadcasting: (1) individual listener/viewer donations and memberships, structured as recurring annual giving with the WSKG Passport tier starting at $60/year providing the primary concrete member benefit; (2) corporate underwriting and sponsorships, where local businesses and national public media partners receive on-air acknowledgment in exchange for program support; and (3) federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The go-to-market motion is community-led: audience acquisition and retention run through over-the-air broadcast, live streaming, donation appeals, community event participation (e.g., Elmira Pride Festival), and an active social media footprint across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, X, and email newsletters. There is no advertising-driven model and no equity ownership — the station is governed by an independent Board of Trustees with a community advisory board.
The organization serves a horizontal, geographically-defined customer base of general public listeners and viewers in the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. Its value proposition centers on non-commercial local journalism, NPR national and international news, PBS educational and documentary programming, classical music, and children's educational content — services it frames as filling coverage gaps left by commercial media in rural and small-city markets. The customer base is a long-tail of individual donors/members rather than enterprise accounts; select_customers is empty in the source data, confirming no B2B revenue concentration.
WSKG-FM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WSKG-FM
- Legal name
- WSKG Public Media
- Website
- https://wskg.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WSKG Public Media is a nonprofit NPR and PBS member station operating ten broadcast outlets across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, delivering news, classical music, educational programming, and PBS content via radio, TV subchannels, and digital streaming to local listeners and viewers supported by member donations, underwriting, and CPB funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WSKG-FM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG), Local News & Weather Stations (MPABACAJ), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where WSKG-FM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vestal
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
WSKG-FM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: Listener-supported public media model where members contribute financially, typically through annual donations or monthly giving, in exchange for benefits like WSKG Passport access to on-demand content.
- Underwriting/Sponsorships: Corporate underwriters support programming in exchange for on-air recognition and acknowledgment. Sponsors include local businesses and national public media partners.
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Funding: Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, supports public broadcasting operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | WSKG Passport membership at $60/year or more |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
WSKG-FM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WSKG-FM (operating as WSKG Public Media) is a nonprofit public broadcasting organization that produces, aggregates, and distributes radio and television programming across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. Its core offerings include FM news radio (WSKG Radio), classical music radio (WSKG Classical), PBS-affiliated television (WSKG TV with PBS Kids, Create TV, and World subchannels), and a streaming membership benefit (WSKG Passport) providing on-demand access to PBS and WSKG video content.
Product overview
WSKG-FM is a public media organization operating as a unified broadcast platform offering multiple content delivery channels. The core offerings include WSKG TV (main PBS television channel with local programming), WSKG Radio (news radio station across multiple FM frequencies), and WSKG Classical (classical music programming). Members receive WSKG Passport as a streaming benefit for on-demand PBS and WSKG content. Television programming extends across subchannels including PBS Kids (children's educational content), Create TV (lifestyle programming), and World Channel (documentary and science content). The organization also provides educational services through dedicated education programming. All content is available via the organization's websites and streaming apps, with WSKG Passport specifically requiring a $60+ annual membership for access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WSKG TV
Companies that use WSKG-FM
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WSKG-FM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
WSKG-FM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreWSKG operates as a PBS and NPR member station, receiving programming content including documentaries, news shows like PBS NewsHour, children's programming, and access to PBS video streaming platforms. This is the primary programming partnership for the TV station component.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreWSKG broadcasts NPR news programming as a member station, providing access to national and international news coverage, podcasts, and related content. The station participates in NPR ONE platform distribution.
- PBS KidscorePBS Kids is the children's educational programming block available 24/7 on WSKG's digital subchannel 46.2/30.2, providing educational content for children and caregivers.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WSKG-FM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WHYY: Philadelphia-based public media organization operating both NPR member radio stations and a PBS television station with member-supported funding model — directly comparable in scale, dual radio/TV structure, and regional public-media mission to WSKG.
- WGBH / GBH: Boston-based public broadcaster operating NPR and PBS stations with the same member-supported, multi-format content model — comparable to WSKG as a combined radio/TV public media organization serving a defined regional market.
- WETA: Washington DC-area public broadcaster operating PBS television and classical/WGBH-radio-adjacent services with member-supported funding — directly comparable dual-format public-media operating model to WSKG.
- WMHT: Capital District (Schenectady/Albany) New York public media organization operating multiple TV and FM radio stations as a PBS/NPR affiliate — comparable regional upstate-NY public media footprint with similar member-supported model.
- WCNY: Syracuse-based upstate New York public broadcaster operating Classic FM, NPR news radio, and PBS television — directly comparable in size, mission, and upstate-NY regional focus to WSKG's Southern Tier operation.
- Vermont Public: Vermont statewide public radio and television network serving rural communities with NPR and PBS programming — comparable rural, multi-county public-media operation with similar member-supported funding model.
- WVIA Public Media: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre NE Pennsylvania public broadcaster serving the Northern Tier of PA — directly comparable geographic peer with overlapping coverage area and same PBS/NPR member-station structure.
- WNED PBS: Buffalo/Western New York public television station and NPR radio affiliate — comparable upstate NY public-media peer with similar member-supported revenue model and multi-channel sub-channel strategy.
- WQLN PBS: Erie, Pennsylvania public television station operating PBS member programming and Passport streaming — comparable small-market public broadcaster in PA with member-supported model similar to WSKG.
Broad incumbents
- NPR (National Public Radio): National public radio network that produces and distributes programming consumed by WSKG — comparable as the parent content network in the NPR member-station system, governing programming, NPR One distribution, and content standards.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WSKG-FM social profiles
Digital presenceWSKG-FM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WSKG-FM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
WSKG-FM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
WSKG-FM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WSKG-FM 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 WSKG-FM
What does WSKG-FM do?
WSKG-FM (operating as WSKG Public Media) is a nonprofit public broadcasting organization that produces, aggregates, and distributes radio and television programming across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. Its core offerings include FM news radio (WSKG Radio), classical music radio (WSKG Classical), PBS-affiliated television (WSKG TV with PBS Kids, Create TV, and World subchannels), and a streaming membership benefit (WSKG Passport) providing on-demand access to PBS and WSKG video content.
Is WSKG-FM a public or private company?
WSKG-FM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WSKG-FM founded?
WSKG-FM was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WSKG-FM based?
WSKG-FM is headquartered in Vestal, United States, in the North America region.
How does WSKG-FM make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are underwriting/Sponsorships and corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Funding.
Who are WSKG-FM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WHYY, WGBH / GBH, WETA, WMHT, WCNY, Vermont Public, WVIA Public Media, WNED PBS and WQLN PBS. NPR (National Public Radio) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does WSKG-FM have an API?
No public API is recorded for WSKG-FM.
What industry is WSKG-FM in?
WSKG-FM's product category is Public Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus), with a secondary code of MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.