Heartland Media

Name

Heartland Media

Legal name

Heartland Media LLC

Website

https://heartlandtv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Heartland Media is a private U.S. television broadcasting company that owns and operates Big Four affiliate stations (NBC, CBS, ABC) in select university towns and state capitals, generating revenue primarily through local and regional advertising sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Television Advertising: Revenue generated from selling advertising airtime on broadcast television stations to local, regional, and potentially national advertisers seeking to reach audiences in the company's station markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Heartland Media operates broadcast television stations as Big Four network affiliates (NBC, CBS, ABC) with strong local news operations. The company's portfolio currently consists of WKTV in Utica, NY (dual NBC/CBS affiliate) and KQTV in St. Joseph, MO (ABC affiliate), targeting university towns and state capitals. Its primary commercial activity is selling television advertising airtime to local and regional advertisers seeking to reach engaged local audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WKTV (Utica, NY)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Direct peers

• Gray Television: Gray Television (GTN) is a publicly traded local broadcast television operator with a large portfolio of Big Four affiliates in mid-sized and small U.S. markets, making it a directly comparable peer in station acquisition strategy and local ad sales model.
• Hearst Television: Hearst Television is a privately held operator of Big Four-affiliated local TV stations with strong local news operations, directly comparable in ownership profile, content focus, and market mix to Heartland Media.
• TEGNA Inc. TEGNA (TGNA) operates a portfolio of local Big Four-affiliated TV stations with strong local news franchises, competing for the same advertiser budgets and acquisition targets in mid-sized U.S. markets.
• Cordillera Communications: Cordillera Communications is a privately held local TV broadcasting group operating Big Four affiliates in mid-sized U.S. markets, making it a direct competitor for both station acquisitions and local ad dollars in Heartland's niche.
• The E.W. Scripps Company: E.W. Scripps (SSP) owns and operates local broadcast TV stations across the U.S. and competes directly for local advertisers and acquisition opportunities, especially in smaller and mid-sized markets where Heartland operates.
• Nexstar Media Group: Nexstar Media Group (NXST) is the largest U.S. owner of local TV stations and a leading acquirer of Big Four affiliates, with deep local ad sales infrastructure and a clear roll-up playbook similar in spirit to Heartland Media's stated growth strategy.
• Lockwood Broadcast Group: Lockwood Broadcast Group is a privately held owner-operator of local broadcast TV stations in smaller U.S. markets, directly comparable in scale, ownership structure, and target market profile to Heartland Media.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair (SBGI) operates a large national footprint of local broadcast TV stations including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and CW affiliates, with comparable local news orientation, advertising sales model, and acquisitive growth history.
• Hubbard Broadcasting: Hubbard Broadcasting is a family-owned broadcaster operating local TV and radio stations, including NBC and ABC affiliates in mid-sized markets, with a similar focus on local news and community-rooted content.

Emerging players

• Marquee Broadcasting: Marquee Broadcasting is a smaller, growing operator of local TV stations in mid-sized U.S. markets, representing a similarly positioned emerging consolidator pursuing Big Four-affiliated station acquisitions.

Market position

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/heartlandllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Heartland Media