Crosscut

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.

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

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

• Public media journalism
• Regional news coverage
• Investigative reporting
• Digital news platform
• Nonprofit broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Reader-supported membership program with benefits including donor recognition, exclusive content access, and volunteer opportunities
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship program allowing businesses to support public media content
3. Major Gifts: Leadership Circle and Legacy Circle major gift programs for significant donors
4. Vehicle and Asset Donations: Vehicle donation program through Careasy platform
5. Planned Giving: Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), IRA gifts, gifts of stock, and matching gifts programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/crosscut
• Facebookfacebook.com/crosscut

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Crosscut