What PBS Reno does

PBS Reno is an independent, community-owned public television station operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, Incorporated, headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Founded in 1983, the station serves central and northern Nevada and northeastern California via over-the-air broadcast, the PBS App and PBS.org streaming platforms, and a network of digital and social channels. Its core product set combines nationally distributed PBS programming with a portfolio of locally produced content — including the long-running travel series Wild Nevada, the arts magazine ARTEFFECTS, the history documentary House With a History, and educational series such as STEM WORKS and JOYful Moments — alongside education programs (Curiosity Classroom, PBS LearningMedia, Writers Contest, Reading Buddies) and the PBS Reno Passport streaming benefit.

PBS Reno's revenue model is donation-led: viewer sustaining memberships (starting at $5/month), one-time gifts ($10–$5,000+), Passport subscriber-equivalents ($8/month or $96/year), corporate and foundation support, legacy/major giving programs (Silver Circle, Insiders Club, Kids Club), and ancillary income from production services for hire and broadcast tower leasing. Historically, 83% of the $7.3M annual operating budget is locally raised, and the organization is debt-free across its entire operating history. The station has no parent company or subsidiaries and is not affiliated with any college, university, government agency, or public radio station.

The operating model now faces a material headwind: Congress rescinded Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding, eliminating $1.3M budgeted for FY26 (beginning October 1, 2025) and an estimated $1.3M for FY27 — approximately 17% of the annual budget. Management's response includes accelerating local fundraising, pursuing co-productions with out-of-state partners (Maryland Public Television, 214 Films, Gold Creek Films on the upcoming documentary 'The Longest Fight'), expanding the local production slate, and growing non-donation revenue through tower leasing and contract production work. Governance and transparency are evidenced by a four-star Charity Navigator rating and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Name

PBS Reno

Legal name

Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, Incorporated

Website

https://pbsreno.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PBS Reno is an independent, community-owned public television station serving Northern Nevada and Northeastern California since 1983, combining national PBS programming with locally produced content (Wild Nevada, ARTEFFECTS, House With a History) funded primarily through viewer donations and memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Broadcasting Production Units & Studios (In-house/Member) (MPABADAF)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• Educational media services
• Local content production
• Streaming membership
• Community broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Viewer Donations and Memberships: Primary revenue source from viewer donations and membership programs. The station has previously raised 83% of annual operating budget through local support. Membership starts at $5/month sustaining or one-time donations with Passport benefit at $60+.
2. Federal Funding (Lost): Federal funding through Corporation for Public Broadcasting was rescinded by Congress, resulting in loss of $1.3 million budgeted for FY26 and $1.3 million for FY27, representing 17% of annual operating budget.
3. Corporate and Foundation Support: Support from area companies, corporations, and foundations who have committed to continuing their support. Also includes major gifts programs like Silver Circle.
4. Production Services and Tower Leasing: Station diversifies funding through production work for hire and leasing space on broadcast tower.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PBS Reno is an independent, community-owned public television station that broadcasts national PBS programming and produces award-winning local content about Nevada's history, arts, nature, and culture. The station distributes content via over-the-air broadcast, the PBS App, and PBS Reno Passport streaming, supported by viewer donations, memberships, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

PBS Reno is an independent, community-owned public television station offering a platform-plus-content model consisting of local Nevada productions and national PBS programming distributed across broadcast, streaming, and digital channels. Local productions include Wild Nevada (travel documentary), ARTEFFECTS (arts magazine), STEM WORKS (education), FoodNotes (culinary), House With a History (historic exploration), and several podcasts including Wild Nevadacast and PBS Reno ARTS Podcast. Educational services include Curiosity Classroom workshops, PBS LearningMedia resources, Writers Contest, and Reading Buddies. The station offers streaming via PBS Reno Passport (membership benefit), PBS KIDS programming, and Create Reno channel. National PBS content includes dramas, documentaries, and news programs. Funding comes primarily from viewer memberships and donations, with the station operating since September 1983.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PBS Reno Passport: Streaming benefit available with donation of $60 or above, including sustaining membership of $5 or more per month.
• PBS Reno Kids Club
• Silver Circle
• Insiders Club
• Reno Create

Products and services

• Wild Nevada Travel-destination documentary series exploring the interior of Nevada, with hosts Chris Orr and Dave Santina traveling across the Silver State over two days per episode. Aimed at viewers in Northern Nevada and beyond who are interested in regional travel, history, and outdoor adventure.
• ARTEFFECTS

Quantifiable outcome

• Four-star rating on Charity Navigator
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Maryland Public Television (MPT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to co-produce documentary 'The Longest Fight' chronicling boxing champion Joe Gans, expected to premiere Fall 2027. Documentary explores Gans' rise from Baltimore waterfront to becoming first Black boxing champion.
• 214 FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company partner for documentary 'The Longest Fight' about boxing champion Joe Gans.
• Gold Creek FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company partner for documentary 'The Longest Fight' about boxing champion Joe Gans.
• Our Story, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit collaborating with Nevada Land Trust to preserve the 6-acre site in Goldfield, Nevada where Joe Gans fought the historic 1906 championship match.
• Nevada Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand trust partnering with Our Story, Inc. to preserve historic boxing site in Goldfield, Nevada.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational public broadcasting network providing national programming content and distribution platforms.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vegas PBS: Public television station serving the Las Vegas/Southern Nevada region, also operating as a community-owned PBS affiliate within Nevada. Direct geographic peer with the same public broadcasting model, local production approach, and donor-funded operating structure as PBS Reno.
• WNED PBS: Buffalo/Toronto-region PBS member station with the same community-owned nonprofit structure, OTA broadcasting, local original productions, and educational programming model that PBS Reno operates under.
• KQED: San Francisco Bay Area PBS member station and one of the largest public media organizations in the U.S. KQED operates the same public television station model as PBS Reno — OTA broadcasting, local original productions, viewer-funded nonprofit — making it the most direct comparable for operating structure and revenue mix.
• Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Public radio AND television broadcaster serving Oregon and parts of the Pacific Northwest. OPB is a comparable regional public media organization with combined TV/radio operations, local journalism, and a member-supported funding model that mirrors PBS Reno's community-funded structure.
• Idaho Public Television: Statewide public television network serving Idaho with the same community-supported nonprofit model, local original productions, educational outreach, and PBS national programming distribution as PBS Reno.
• Arizona PBS: PBS member station serving Arizona, operated as a university-licensed public broadcaster. Comparable public television station with local original productions, educational programming, and viewer-funded operations, though structured under a university license rather than fully independent.
• Rocky Mountain PBS: Colorado-based PBS member station network with similar community-funded nonprofit structure, multi-station broadcast operations, and local original production slate. Comparable scale and operating model to PBS Reno's regional public television footprint.
• PBS SoCal: Southern California PBS member station operating with the same nonprofit, viewer-funded public television model as PBS Reno, including local original productions, educational programming, and PBS distribution partnerships.
• Maryland Public Television (MPT): Statewide public television network that is an active co-production partner with PBS Reno on 'The Longest Fight' documentary. MPT operates the same public broadcasting station model with local production, educational outreach, and federal/state funding exposure.

Broad incumbents

• WGBH: Boston's flagship PBS station and one of the largest content producers for the PBS network. WGBH operates the same public television business model but at significantly greater scale and produces national programming (e.g., Frontline, American Experience) that PBS Reno distributes locally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PBSReno
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pbsreno
• Facebookfacebook.com/PBSReno
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pbsreno
• Instagraminstagram.com/pbsreno
• TikToktiktok.com/@pbsreno

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 PBS Reno