Crosscut
Crosscut is a Pacific Northwest digital journalism brand operated by Cascade PBS Public Media, providing investigative reporting, cultural coverage, and public affairs programming to regional audiences via web, podcast, mobile, and broadcast television distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Crosscut does
Crosscut is a Pacific Northwest-focused digital journalism brand operated by Cascade PBS Public Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The organization delivers investigative reporting, cultural coverage, and public affairs programming to regional audiences across Washington State and the broader Pacific Northwest. Crosscut was founded in 2007 by David Brewster and is now an integrated wholly-owned brand within Cascade PBS, which also operates two licensed public television stations (KCTS-TV in Seattle and KYVE in Yakima) under the legacy KCTS 9 identity.
The core product surface spans a digital news platform (cascadepbs.org), a mobile app with Passport authenticated streaming, ten active podcast series covering news, history, food, outdoors, civic affairs, and culture, and recurring editorial franchises (Mossback's Northwest, Nick On The Rocks, The Newsfeed, Art by Northwest). Distribution combines linear broadcast, on-demand streaming, podcast aggregators (Apple Podcasts, Spotify), and live programming such as the annual Ideas Festival and Civic Cocktail events. The Origins grant program extends the organization into documentary filmmaker development.
The business model is reader- and donor-supported rather than product-priced. Revenue is generated across five streams: tiered memberships with recurring donor benefits, corporate sponsorship, major gifts through Leadership Circle and Legacy Circle programs, planned giving (Donor Advised Funds, IRA gifts, gifts of stock, matching gifts), and vehicle donations processed through Careasy. There is no public pricing schedule and no disclosed funding rounds; Cascade PBS operates as an independent nonprofit without external parent ownership or private equity involvement.
Crosscut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crosscut
- Legal name
- Cascade PBS Public Media
- Website
- https://crosscut.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Crosscut is a Pacific Northwest digital journalism brand operated by Cascade PBS Public Media, providing investigative reporting, cultural coverage, and public affairs programming to regional audiences via web, podcast, mobile, and broadcast television distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crosscut industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Media Journalism
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rolling News & Breaking News Channels (MPABAIAH)
Keywords
Where Crosscut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crosscut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: Reader-supported membership program with benefits including donor recognition, exclusive content access, and volunteer opportunities
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship program allowing businesses to support public media content
- Major Gifts: Leadership Circle and Legacy Circle major gift programs for significant donors
- Vehicle and Asset Donations: Vehicle donation program through Careasy platform
- Planned Giving: Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), IRA gifts, gifts of stock, and matching gifts programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Membership program with various giving levels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Crosscut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crosscut produces and distributes Pacific Northwest-focused journalism and cultural content through a multi-platform nonprofit media operation under Cascade PBS Public Media. Its core deliverables include editorial news reporting (The Newsfeed), historical and cultural commentary (Mossback's Northwest, Art by Northwest), podcast series across multiple genres, and television broadcasting via KCTS-TV and KYVE. The offering is bundled into a free, member-supported experience with optional Passport streaming access for donors.
Product overview
Cascade PBS operates as a reader-supported public media organization providing television broadcasting and digital content covering the Pacific Northwest. The core offerings include TV programming and news coverage alongside a portfolio of branded podcast series (Black Arts Legacies, Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, Civic Cocktail, Crosscut Escapes, Mossback, Northwest Reports, Out & Back, Your Last Meal, This Changes Everything, The Nosh with Rachel Belle) and editorial content franchises (Mossback's Northwest, Nick On The Rocks, Art by Northwest, The Newsfeed). Additional programs include the Origins grant program for documentary filmmakers and the annual Ideas Festival event series.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Crosscut Escapes: A podcast focused on travel and exploration in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
- The Newsfeed
- Mossback's Northwest
- The Nosh with Rachel Belle
- Art by Northwest
Products and services
- Cascade PBS TV Public television broadcasting service delivering local news, documentaries, and regional programming to Pacific Northwest households via KCTS-TV (Seattle) and KYVE (Yakima), with ways-to-watch streaming availability for members.
- The Newsfeed Daily digital news platform delivering breaking news, investigative reporting, and in-depth analysis of Pacific Northwest affairs to a regional audience.
- Mossback Podcast Podcast series examining historical perspectives on current events and Pacific Northwest history for a general regional audience.
- Black Arts Legacies Podcast Podcast exploring the stories and contributions of Black artists and cultural figures in the Pacific Northwest.
- Civic Cocktail Podcast Podcast combining Pacific Northwest politics and civic engagement, featuring conversations with elected officials and civic leaders.
- Crosscut Escapes Podcast Travel and outdoor-adventure podcast focusing on explorations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
- Northwest Reports Podcast News podcast delivering comprehensive reporting on issues affecting Washington State and the broader Pacific Northwest.
- Out & Back Podcast Podcast focused on outdoor adventure, fitness, and exploration stories from across the Pacific Northwest.
- Your Last Meal Podcast Podcast exploring food culture and personal storytelling through the lens of guests' last meals.
- This Changes Everything Podcast Podcast series examining transformative ideas and events with the potential to create significant change.
- The Nosh with Rachel Belle Podcast Food-culture podcast dedicated to culinary explorations and stories about cuisine in the Pacific Northwest.
- Ideas Festival Annual in-person event series in the Pacific Northwest bringing together thought leaders, innovators, and community members for discussions on regional topics.
- Nick On The Rocks Visual storytelling video series using photography and on-location reporting to explore Pacific Northwest topics.
Companies that use Crosscut
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Crosscut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Crosscut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Crosscut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KNKX (Tacoma Public Radio): Pacific Northwest public radio station producing jazz, news, and talk programming. Direct peer in regional public media with similar membership and underwriting funding model and geographic focus on Washington State.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): A regional PBS/NPR-affiliated public media organization serving Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest with TV, radio, podcasts, and digital journalism. Closest direct peer to Cascade PBS given adjacent geographic footprint, comparable funding model, and overlapping editorial mission.
- The Seattle Times: The dominant regional daily news outlet in the Pacific Northwest. Direct peer in Pacific Northwest journalism, competing for reader attention, subscribers, and advertising/sponsorship dollars in the same Seattle-area audience.
- Colorado Public Radio (CPR): Regional public radio organization and existing journalistic partner of Cascade PBS. Direct peer due to comparable nonprofit member-supported model and similar focus on investigative and civic-affairs coverage across a defined state/region.
- KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio: Seattle-based NPR member station producing local news, talk, and podcasts for the Puget Sound region. Direct peer given overlapping geography, similar member-supported funding model, and shared Pacific Northwest journalism mandate.
Broad incumbents
- WBUR (Boston): Major-market NPR member station with substantial original local journalism, podcasts, and digital presence. Comparable as an established public radio operation running extensive regional news beyond traditional broadcasting formats.
- WGBH (Boston): Major-market public media station and PBS producer based in Boston operating TV, radio, and digital news platforms. Comparable as a larger, established public media organization with a multi-platform operation that includes original journalism, though operating in a different region.
Emerging players
- South Seattle Emerald: Community-rooted nonprofit newsroom covering Seattle neighborhoods and communities of color. Emerging peer that overlaps with Cascade PBS's community/journalism mission and competes for Pacific Northwest reader attention and donor support.
- InvestigateWest: Pacific Northwest-focused nonprofit investigative journalism outlet covering environment, public health, and accountability reporting. Emerging peer given narrower investigative focus overlapping with Cascade PBS's investigations team output for the same region.
Regional players
- KEXP: Seattle-based public radio station and digital streaming platform funded by listener membership. Regional peer operating in the same Seattle market with a similar listener-supported nonprofit funding model and community-engagement focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Crosscut social profiles
Digital presenceCrosscut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crosscut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Crosscut subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Crosscut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crosscut 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 Crosscut
What does Crosscut do?
Crosscut produces and distributes Pacific Northwest-focused journalism and cultural content through a multi-platform nonprofit media operation under Cascade PBS Public Media. Its core deliverables include editorial news reporting (The Newsfeed), historical and cultural commentary (Mossback's Northwest, Art by Northwest), podcast series across multiple genres, and television broadcasting via KCTS-TV and KYVE. The offering is bundled into a free, member-supported experience with optional Passport streaming access for donors.
Is Crosscut a public or private company?
Crosscut is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Crosscut founded?
Crosscut was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Crosscut based?
Crosscut is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crosscut make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship, major Gifts, vehicle and Asset Donations and planned Giving.
Who are Crosscut's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KNKX (Tacoma Public Radio), Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), The Seattle Times, Colorado Public Radio (CPR) and KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio. Broad incumbents are WBUR (Boston) and WGBH (Boston). Emerging players are South Seattle Emerald and InvestigateWest. KEXP is listed as a regional player.
Does Crosscut have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crosscut.
What industry is Crosscut in?
Crosscut's product category is Public Media Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAN, Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural), with a secondary code of MPABAIAH, Rolling News & Breaking News Channels. Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.