WCCA TV

What WCCA TV does

WCCA TV (legal name: Worcester Community Cable Access, Inc.), founded in 1986, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public access television station and community media center headquartered at 415 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. The organization operates Worcester cable channel 194 and extends distribution through its wccatv.com website, Facebook Live, a Roku channel under the "Worcester TV" brand, and an on-demand video archive. Programming is produced by and for Worcester residents, with a slate that includes interview and civic-affairs programs (Soapbox, Chandler Chat, Mayor's Forum, This Is Worcester), music programming (Video Jam, BandEdge), community information (Daily Breaking, launched in March 2020 in response to COVID-19), and topical talk shows (What It's Worth). The station brands itself "The People's Channel" and positions around First Amendment access, civic discourse, and media-literacy training.

The core offering is twofold: (1) a publishing and broadcast platform where community members produce and air local programming, and (2) a hands-on TV Production Class program covering camera operation, lighting, studio setup, production equipment, and video editing, offered on a first-come, first-served basis with a certificate of completion. Underlying technology is conventional public-access broadcasting infrastructure — studio facilities, production equipment, video editing tools, and multi-channel streaming delivery — with no proprietary software stack, public API, or app product disclosed. The station also runs an internship pipeline for high-school and college students and a partnership with Anna Maria College delivering credited television production coursework at WCCA's downtown studio.

WCCA TV is funded primarily through tax-deductible donations and a "Circle of Friends" program that allows donors to underwrite specific programs, supplemented by TV Production Class enrollment fees and in-kind volunteer labor. It does not charge political candidates or guest organizations for airtime. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: outreach through classes, Candidate Open Mic Nights, coverage of local events, email newsletters, and organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, SoundCloud). Leadership consists of an Executive Director (Mauro DePasquale) supported by a small staff and a Board of Directors. The organization reports no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity.

Name

WCCA TV

Legal name

Worcester Community Cable Access, Inc.

Website

https://wccatv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WCCA TV is a Worcester, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public access television station and community media center, founded in 1986, that broadcasts community-produced programming on cable channel 194, online, and on Roku.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Access Television

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational/Public-Service Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Public access television
• Community media center
• TV production training
• Local broadcasting
• Community programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: WCCA TV is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible and support local programming. The 'Circle of Friends' program allows donors to underwrite specific programming.
2. TV Production Classes: The station offers TV Production Classes that cover camera operation, lighting, studio setup, production equipment, and basics of video editing, providing revenue through course fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WCCA TV operates a public access television station and community media center in Worcester, Massachusetts, producing and broadcasting locally produced programming on cable channel 194, online streaming, and Roku. The station offers TV production classes covering camera operation, lighting, studio setup, and video editing, and provides community members, local organizations, and political candidates with a platform to produce, sponsor, or appear on programming. It is funded primarily through tax-deductible community donations, memberships, and class fees as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

WCCA TV is a public access community media center offering a unified platform for local television production and broadcasting. The core offering consists of TV production classes teaching camera operation, lighting, studio setup, and video editing, combined with studio access for community producers. Programming distribution includes live streaming via their website, cable channel 194 in Worcester, and Roku (Worcester TV). Key programs include interview shows like Soapbox and Chandler Chat, music video shows like Video Jam and BandEdge, community talk shows like What It's Worth and This Is Worcester, and special presentations. The station also provides membership programs, internship opportunities, and on-demand video access through their website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TV Production Classes Hands-on courses covering television production including camera operation, lighting, studio setup, production equipment, and video editing. Participants receive a certificate of completion. Offered to Worcester community members on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Video On Demand On-demand streaming of WCCA TV's program library, featuring hundreds of episodes across multiple shows including Soapbox, Chandler Chat, Mayor's Forum, Video Jam, BandEdge, This Is Worcester, and Daily Breaking. Accessible globally via wccatv.com.
• Live Streaming Live broadcast of WCCA TV programming via their website, Worcester cable channel 194, Roku (Worcester TV app), and Facebook Live. Available to Worcester-area cable subscribers and global online audiences.
• Soapbox (Community Interview Program) Interview show hosted by Executive Director Mauro DePasquale featuring community issues and local initiatives, airing Saturdays at 10:30 PM and Sundays at 6:30 PM. Episodes feature guests such as National Grid, Worcester County Sheriff, Quinsigamond Community College, and local non-profits.
• Video Jam (Music Video Program) Independent and eclectic music video show hosted by Tracy Foley, featuring mainstream and indie music content for Worcester-area viewers.
• Mayor's Forum (Civic Affairs Program) Program hosted by Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty featuring local guests discussing important topics affecting Worcester and Central Massachusetts.
• Community Membership Program Community membership allowing Worcester residents to produce their own shows, sponsor programming through the 'Circle of Friends,' or volunteer at the station.
• Internship Program Hands-on media production internships offering experience in TV production, broadcasting, and the visual arts for high-school and college students, with opportunities to record and edit community events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced 80+ episodes of 'Daily Breaking' during COVID-19 pandemic to inform community about services and resources

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anna Maria CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2021Anna Maria College partnered with WCCA TV to present a credited Television Production Course in downtown Worcester at WCCA TV's Action Studio. The partnership allows Anna Maria College students to earn college credits while learning TV production skills at WCCA's facility.
• The016.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe016.com is a media partner with WCCA TV. Mark Henderson, Founder and CEO of The016.com, acknowledged WCCA TV as a media partner sharing their mission of informing local people about things that impact their lives. The016.com recently surpassed 10 million page views.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN): MNN is a NYC-based nonprofit public access TV station and community media center offering production classes, studio access, and cable/online distribution. Closest comparable model to WCCA in terms of mission, community-led programming, and nonprofit PEG cable operations.
• PhillyCAM: Philadelphia's nonprofit community access network providing public access TV channels, media production classes, and community programming. Direct peer in PEG access mission and nonprofit community-media-center model.
• Berkeley Community Media (BCMedia): City of Berkeley's nonprofit public access TV station offering cable channel programming, production training, and civic engagement. Direct peer in PEG public access broadcasting and community media education.
• Cambridge Community Television (CCTV): Cambridge, MA-based nonprofit community media center providing public access cable channels, production classes, equipment access, and civic programming. Highly comparable to WCCA in geography, scale, and Massachusetts PEG operating context.
• DC Community Media (DCTV): Washington DC's nonprofit community access television station providing PEG cable channels, production classes, and civic-focused programming. Comparable peer in nonprofit community-media-center mission and operations.
• Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN): Boston's nonprofit community media center offering public access TV, production training, and civic programming on local cable channels. Comparable peer given shared Massachusetts geography, nonprofit model, and PEG cable structure.

Regional players

• Greater Portland Community Media (GPCM): Greater Portland, ME-based nonprofit community media center providing PEG access channels, training, and local programming. Comparable peer operating in New England with similar scale and nonprofit structure.

Broad incumbents

• WGBH (GBH): Boston-based major PBS member station producing educational and public-affairs programming across TV, radio, and digital. Broader public-broadcasting incumbent serving the same New England region with overlapping public-service mission but much larger scale and different funding model.

Emerging players

• The016.com: Worcester-area local digital news and information site that recently surpassed 10 million page views. A digitally-native local media peer that partially overlaps with WCCA's hyperlocal civic-information mission and is already a media partner.

Others

• Alliance for Community Media (ACM): National trade association supporting PEG (Public, Educational, Governmental) access channels like WCCA. Included as an ecosystem peer representing the broader community-media sector WCCA operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wccatv13
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJuENZwI0aWs5Wkc4uRLKJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/wccatv
• Instagraminstagram.com/wccatv13

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 WCCA TV