Free Speech TV

What Free Speech TV does

Free Speech TV (FSTV) is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a national independent progressive media network. The organization delivers 24/7 live streaming, on-demand programming, and original documentaries through satellite carriage on Dish Network (channel 269) and DIRECTV (channel 348), and across digital distribution platforms including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Sling TV, native iOS/Android apps, and its own website at freespeech.org/live-tv. The network reaches an estimated 20 million US households via broadcast and approximately 375,000 monthly streaming viewers, supported by a national community called FSTV Nation with more than one million members. Programming consists of curated third-party progressive news and commentary (Democracy Now!, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Rising Up With Sonali), in-house original series (FSTV Speaks, Generation Girl Code), feature documentaries (Resisterhood, Hardliner on the Hudson, The Rights of Nature), and live coverage of progressive events including Bioneers, Netroots Nation, and No Kings rallies. FSTV also operates the Mobilize action hub, which connects viewers with civic engagement opportunities, toolkits, and trainings.

FSTV's revenue model is built on viewer-supported nonprofit economics rather than subscriptions or advertising dependency. The primary funding source is individual donations from viewers, supplemented by foundation grants and FCC-compliant underwriting credits from mission-aligned organizations. In a recent addition to this mix, FSTV partnered with Connectki to introduce mission-aligned premium video advertising across its digital platforms, subject to editorial review. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (including Chairperson Reggie Shuford, Vice Chair Sarah Van Gelder, Treasurer Jay Harris, and Secretary Renaldo Pearson) and is led by Co-Executive Directors Mark Winston Griffith and Lydia Fiser, appointed in February 2024. Day-to-day operations are run by a small staff of approximately fourteen named team members covering broadcast operations, audience platforms, development, donor engagement, community engagement, multimedia production, strategic partnerships, and marketing.

The technology stack is conventional for a digital-first broadcaster and is composed of third-party SaaS integrations rather than proprietary AI or data platforms. Payments are processed through Stripe with donor records managed in Salesforce, viewer voice comments are captured via SpeakPipe, and digital advertising is operated through the Connectki partnership. FSTV runs native mobile applications on iOS and Android in addition to its web streaming experience. There is no disclosed proprietary model, AI/ML system, or data flywheel; the platform's defensibility rests on its multi-channel distribution footprint, its branded identity as resistance media, and its ecosystem of impact partners (Bioneers, MoveOn, AFL-CIO, Women's March, United We Dream, More Perfect Union, Inequality Media with Robert Reich, 1Hood Media Network, and others) whose content and campaigns are amplified to the FSTV audience.

Name

Free Speech TV

Legal name

Free Speech TV

Website

https://freespeech.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Free Speech TV is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit progressive media network delivering 24/7 live streaming, on-demand programming, and original documentaries across satellite, CTV, and mobile platforms to roughly 20 million US households and a community of over one million viewers, funded primarily by individual donations, foundation grants, and mission-aligned underwriting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Nonprofit News Network

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG), Public Broadcasting Production Units & Studios (In-house/Member) (MPABADAF)

Keywords

• Progressive news network
• Independent media streaming
• Live broadcast streaming
• Nonprofit journalism media
• Social justice programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary funding source - viewer-supported network funded almost entirely through individual donations from viewers.
2. Foundation Grants: Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded through grants from foundations.
3. Underwriting/Sponsorship: Mission-aligned underwriting credits acknowledging organizations that fund public television programming. 15-second credits following FCC guidelines. Tax-deductible partnership supporting independent journalism.
4. Digital Advertising: Premium video advertising on digital platforms (website, OTT apps, CTV platforms, mobile app) through Connectki partnership. All advertising must reflect and support FSTV's mission, vision, and values.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Free Speech TV is a viewer-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit media network that streams 24/7 progressive news, original documentaries, talk shows, and live event coverage across satellite, streaming apps, mobile, and web. It also operates a community mobilization platform (FSTV Mobilize) and an Impact Partnership program that distributes and co-produces content with mission-aligned social justice organizations.

Product overview

Free Speech TV operates as a unified nonprofit media streaming platform combining live television broadcasting, on-demand content delivery, and community mobilization. The core offering consists of FSTV Live TV Streaming (24/7 online broadcast), FSTV Mobile App (iOS and Android native applications), FSTV Shows/Programming (curated progressive news shows and commentary), FSTV Documentaries (feature documentary films), FSTV Originals (in-house produced series), and FSTV Events Coverage (live coverage of progressive events). These are distributed through multiple digital platforms including Dish 269, DIRECTV 348, Roku, Apple TV, Sling TV, Amazon Fire, and streaming online. The platform extends into community engagement through FSTV Mobilize (Action Hub for civic action), Impact Partnership Program (for mission-aligned organizations), and viewer feedback tools. Revenue generation includes FSTV Underwriting/Sponsorship opportunities and FSTV Advertising via Connectki partner. The organization reaches approximately 20 million US television households plus approximately 370,000 monthly streaming viewers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FSTV Speaks: A powerful series connecting FSTV viewers with an inside look at today's most pressing social movements, from labor and climate justice to trans rights and democracy.
• Generation Girl Code (GGC)

Products and services

• FSTV Live TV Streaming 24/7 live streaming of progressive news and original content accessible to viewers free of charge at freespeech.org/live-tv.
• FSTV Mobile App Native iOS and Android applications for streaming FSTV content, with cross-device login continuity to keep viewing progress across multiple devices.
• FSTV Originals In-house produced original series that elevate grassroots movements, challenge the status quo, and invite viewers into the heart of resistance. Includes FSTV Speaks and Generation Girl Code (GGC).
• FSTV Shows/Programming Curated collection of progressive news shows, commentary programs, and documentary series including Democracy Now!, Rising Up With Sonali, Thom Hartmann Program, Stephanie Miller Show, and others.
• FSTV Documentaries Feature documentary films covering social justice, environmental, and political topics, including titles such as Resisterhood, Hardliner on the Hudson, The Rights of Nature, Uphill on the Hill, and Weathering the Storm.
• FSTV Events Coverage Live and on-demand coverage of progressive events, organizing conferences, and advocacy campaigns including Bioneers, Netroots Nation, and No Kings rallies.
• FSTV Mobilize (Action Hub) Community mobilization platform featuring upcoming events, featured trainings, resistance resources, and toolkits connecting viewers with opportunities to take civic action on social justice issues.
• FSTV Underwriting/Sponsorship Underwriting offering for mission-aligned organizations and companies to receive broadcast and streaming exposure alongside FSTV programs, including 15-second underwriting credits following FCC guidelines.
• FSTV Digital Advertising (via Connectki) Premium video advertising placement on FSTV's digital platforms, including website, OTT apps, CTV platforms, and mobile app, offered through the Connectki partnership for mission-aligned advertisers.
• Impact Partnership Program Partnership initiative connecting FSTV with mission-aligned organizations, creators, and changemakers through content distribution, co-productions, and cross-promotion, including a Circle of Solidarity Partners tier.

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and impact partner.

• ConnectkicoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Connectki, a leader in Connected TV (CTV) and mobile app advertising, to provide premium video advertising on FSTV's digital platforms including website, OTT apps, CTV platforms, and mobile app. FSTV maintains mission review of all advertising creative.
• Bioneersimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization working on social justice and environmental issues. FSTV broadcasts and promotes their events and advocacy campaigns to national audience.
• Netroots Nationimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgressive political organization hosting annual conferences. FSTV provides coverage and promotion of their events and campaigns.
• Working Families Partyimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgressive political party organization. FSTV amplifies their advocacy campaigns and political organizing efforts.
• More Perfect Unionimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic justice media organization producing video content. FSTV broadcasts their content and co-produces programming.
• Women's Marchimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's rights advocacy organization. FSTV promotes their events and advocacy campaigns to engaged viewer base.
• United We Dreamimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmigrant rights advocacy organization. FSTV broadcasts their video content and promotes campaigns.
• MoveOnimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgressive political organization. FSTV promotes their campaigns and connects viewers with opportunities to participate in civic action.
• AFL-CIO Department of People Who Work for a Livingimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor movement media initiative. FSTV broadcasts their video content covering labor rights and worker issues.
• Inequality Media with Robert Reichimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic inequality focused media production. FSTV broadcasts their content explaining economic issues and inequality.
• National Lawyers Guildimpact partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgressive legal organization. FSTV broadcasts their video content related to legal justice issues.
• 1Hood Media NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner producing 'This Week In White Supremacy' show discussing cultural effects of white supremacy through commentary and hip-hop culture.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Real News Network: Nonprofit, viewer-funded progressive video news network offering original documentaries and daily news, closely overlapping FSTV's audience and mission.
• Link TV: Nonprofit independent television network offering global and progressive programming distributed via satellite and streaming, comparable national-distribution nonprofit model.
• AJ+ (Al Jazeera): Digital-first progressive-leaning news outlet producing short-form video content for streaming platforms and social media, directly competing for the same digitally native progressive audience.
• The Young Turks (TYT): Progressive digital news network producing video commentary and original programming distributed across YouTube and streaming, directly comparable in audience and editorial stance.
• Democracy Now!: Independent progressive news program distributed on FSTV and other outlets; operates as nonprofit viewer-supported journalism with comparable mission, audience, and funding model.

Emerging players

• Inequality Media (Robert Reich): Progressive economic-inequality video producer; FSTV impact partner that also distributes independently, illustrating how content partners can scale into standalone competitors.
• Truthout: Nonprofit progressive news outlet producing investigative journalism and video content, sharing FSTV's donor-supported progressive media model and overlapping audience.
• More Perfect Union: Video-producing progressive media organization covering economic justice; operates as an FSTV impact partner but also distributes content independently, representing an emerging direct competitor for the same niche audience.

Broad incumbents

• PBS: Largest US nonprofit public television network with comparable mission, funding model (donations, grants, underwriting), and broadcast distribution, though broader in scope and significantly larger in scale.
• Current TV / Current Affairs: Public-media trade publication and sector; broader nonprofit public-broadcasting ecosystem that contextualizes FSTV's operating environment and funding dynamics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/freespeechtv
• Facebookfacebook.com/freespeechtv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/free-speech-tv
• Instagraminstagram.com/freespeechtv
• TikToktiktok.com/@freespeech.tv
• Xx.com/freespeechtv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Free Speech TV