Sign1News
Sign1News is an Atlanta-based private digital media company that operates the first and only cloud-driven digital news network delivering news in American Sign Language to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, via its website, YouTube channel, and mobile app, with a B2B services subsidiary called Sign1Studios.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLithonia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Sign1News does
Sign1News is a privately held digital media company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that operates the first and only cloud-driven digital news network delivering news and information in American Sign Language (ASL) to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community in the United States. Co-founded by Karen Graham and Jabari Butler, the company distributes daily post-produced broadcasts and live-streamed content through three primary channels: the sign1news.com website, a dedicated mobile app, and a YouTube partner channel that provides global reach. The platform maintains an archive of more than 7,000 posts dating back to 2013, covering local, regional, national, and international news (including International Sign Language updates), sports, entertainment, and health content, with closed captioning supporting bilingual accessibility. Sign1News holds core partnerships with CNN for news content and the American Heart Association for recurring health programming, and its content is featured in earned media outlets including Fox 5 Atlanta, Forbes, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The company operates a two-segment business model. The first segment is consumer-facing digital media distribution, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and content licensing arrangements. The second segment is B2B professional services delivered through Sign1Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary established in 2019 that provides sign language interpreting, CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation), and accessible virtual event production for enterprise, government, and nonprofit clients including the United Nations. Additional social impact programming includes the "Chosen: A Family Connection" Deaf adoption initiative, which received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2019 Adoption Excellence Award and remains an active content vertical on the platform. The company also operates an earned-media-driven marketing approach combining school outreach programs, awards positioning, and press coverage in regional and national outlets.
Sign1News firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sign1News
- Legal name
- Sign1News
- Website
- http://www.sign1news.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sign1News is an Atlanta-based private digital media company that operates the first and only cloud-driven digital news network delivering news in American Sign Language to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, via its website, YouTube channel, and mobile app, with a B2B services subsidiary called Sign1Studios.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sign1News industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital News Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Translation and Interpretation Services (541930)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Subtitling & Captioning Services (Timed Text, SDH/CC) (MPAHAFAA)
Keywords
Where Sign1News is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lithonia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sign1News business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Digital Media Content: Sign1News generates content for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, potentially monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and content licensing arrangements with partners like CNN
- Professional Services: Provides services including Sign Language Interpreting, CART (Computer-Aided Real-Time Transcription), and Virtual Event Production for external clients
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sign1News product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sign1News is a cloud-driven digital network that delivers local, regional, and national news and information in American Sign Language (ASL) to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community through daily post-produced broadcasts, live-streamed content, a dedicated website, and a mobile app. Its subsidiary Sign1Studios provides Sign Language Interpreting, CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation), and Accessible Virtual Event Production services to organizations. Revenue is generated through advertising, sponsorships, and content licensing arrangements including a partnership with CNN.
Product overview
Sign1News operates as a unified digital news platform serving the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community through multiple delivery channels. The core product is the Sign1News Platform, delivering news in American Sign Language via live streaming and post-produced broadcasts. This is complemented by Sign1Studios, a media production services division offering Sign Language Interpreting, CART services, and Virtual Event Production. The Chosen adoption initiative represents a social impact program, while a dedicated mobile app provides on-the-go access to content. The company positions itself as the first and only cloud-driven digital network offering online news in ASL.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sign1Studios: A subsidiary providing sign language interpreting, CART services, and virtual event production.
Products and services
- Sign1News Platform The first and only cloud-driven digital news network delivering news and information in American Sign Language (ASL) to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community via live streamed and daily post-produced broadcasts covering local, regional, and national news, sports, entertainment, and international news.
- Sign1Studios (Interpreting, CART, and Accessible Virtual Event Production) Media production services division offering Sign Language Interpreting, CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation), and Virtual Event Production services for external clients including enterprises, government, nonprofits, and entertainment organizations.
- Sign1News Mobile App Dedicated mobile application for accessing Sign1News content, featuring exclusive news available on the app platform for on-the-go access by the Deaf and hard-of-hearing audience.
Quantifiable outcome
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2019 Adoption Excellence Award for Media/Social Media/Public Awareness
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Sign1News
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sign1News technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sign1News partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Sesame Street: The MusicalminorSign1News partnered with Sesame Street: The Musical for entertainment content coverage.
- United Nations (UN75 Campaign) with Max InternationalminorSign1News provided Accessible Virtual Event Production services for the United Nations UN75 campaign, featuring Ambassador Andrew Young.
- CNNcoreSign1News is partnered with world news leader CNN to provide content. This partnership enables access to local, regional, and national news content for the Deaf community.
- YouTubecoreSign1News operates as a YouTube partner, distributing video content through the YouTube platform.
- American Heart AssociationminorSign1News features AHA Heart Health Tips of the Week, providing health content to the Deaf community through ASL presentations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sign1News competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- SignAll: SignAll builds automated sign language recognition and translation technology. Comparable as a technology-driven player focused on ASL accessibility and communication, intersecting with Sign1News' mission of providing accessible content to the Deaf community through a different modality.
- Hand Talk: Hand Talk is an app-based sign language translation platform using an AI-driven 3D avatar (originally Brazilian, expanding globally). Comparable because it addresses accessibility for sign-language users and pursues a digital/avatar approach to ASL/LSB content delivery, an adjacent modality to Sign1News' human-anchored ASL broadcasting.
Direct peers
- The Daily Moth: The Daily Moth is a daily news platform delivered in ASL, serving the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. It is the most direct competitor to Sign1News, offering news broadcasts in ASL through similar digital distribution channels.
Others
- Deaf/Hard of Hearing Innovation (DHHC) / TAP (Telecommunications for the Deaf): TAP is a Deaf-led organization that has historically provided relay services and resources for the Deaf community. Comparable as an ecosystem participant addressing the same audience with adjacent accessibility services, though operating as a nonprofit/community organization rather than a commercial media platform.
Broad incumbents
- Sorenson Communications: Sorenson is one of the largest U.S. providers of video relay services (VRS) and interpreting services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. While focused on telecommunications rather than news, it serves the same customer base and competes for the same community's attention and budget.
- Convo Relay: Convo provides video relay and interpreting services for the Deaf community. Comparable because it serves the same Deaf audience and operates in the broader accessibility-services ecosystem that Sign1Studios also addresses.
- ZVRS (Z VRS / Purple Communications): ZVRS (formed from the merger of Purple Communications and ZVRS) is a leading VRS provider for the Deaf community. Comparable because it operates in the same Deaf-services ecosystem, offering interpreting and accessibility services similar to Sign1Studios' professional services arm.
Regional players
- Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): CSD is a nonprofit providing interpreting, advocacy, and Deaf services across the U.S. Comparable because it operates in the same Deaf-services ecosystem and provides interpreting and accessibility services that overlap with Sign1Studios' B2B offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sign1News social profiles
Digital presenceSign1News financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sign1News leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sign1News subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sign1News funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sign1News 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 Sign1News
What does Sign1News do?
Sign1News is a cloud-driven digital network that delivers local, regional, and national news and information in American Sign Language (ASL) to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community through daily post-produced broadcasts, live-streamed content, a dedicated website, and a mobile app. Its subsidiary Sign1Studios provides Sign Language Interpreting, CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation), and Accessible Virtual Event Production services to organizations. Revenue is generated through advertising, sponsorships, and content licensing arrangements including a partnership with CNN.
Is Sign1News a public or private company?
Sign1News is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sign1News founded?
Sign1News was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sign1News based?
Sign1News is headquartered in Lithonia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sign1News make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Digital Media Content is the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Sign1News's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are SignAll and Hand Talk. The Daily Moth is listed as a direct peer. Deaf/Hard of Hearing Innovation (DHHC) / TAP (Telecommunications for the Deaf) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Sorenson Communications, Convo Relay and ZVRS (Z VRS / Purple Communications). Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is listed as a regional player.
Does Sign1News have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sign1News.
What industry is Sign1News in?
Sign1News's product category is Digital News Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAFAA, Subtitling & Captioning Services (Timed Text, SDH/CC). Its NAICS code is 541930.