HEC Media

What HEC Media does

HEC Media (legally HEC-TV) is a St. Louis-based non-profit media corporation whose stated mission is to strengthen and promote education, arts, science, and culture in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The organization produces television programs, documentary films, and digital video content covering local arts, theater, education, science and technology, history, and community stories. Its core product portfolio includes the flagship weekly program Spotlight STL (airing Sundays on STL KPLR Channel 11 and Charter Cable Channel 989), the History Spotlight series, HEC Films documentaries, and ten themed YouTube channels such as Who Else Loves History?, Who Else Loves Art?, Innovation in Action, Storytellers Studio, The Arts Experience, Aspire and Celebrate, Her in History, and Celebrate Us, each with distinct vertical focuses and regular publication schedules.

The organization's underlying technology is a conventional multi-platform video production and distribution stack spanning linear broadcast, cable carriage, a multi-channel YouTube network, and a content management website (hecmedia.org). Complementary products include the Educate.Today free classroom video resource library, the Classroom Matters Podcast, Two on the Aisle theater reviews, and the Off the Shelf author read-aloud series. The organization maintains deep partnerships with regional cultural and research institutions including The Muny, Missouri Botanical Garden, BioSTL/BioGenerator, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the Saint Louis Art Fair.

HEC Media is funded almost entirely by donations and public support, consistent with its non-profit status. Its primary customer segments are St. Louis metropolitan viewers interested in local arts, history, science, and culture, K-12 educators and students accessing free educational video resources, and science/technology enthusiasts. Named awards include 17 Midwest Emmy nominations including an Overall Excellence nomination. Leadership comprises Dennis Riggs (President), Jayne Ballew (Director of Programming), and Tim Gore (Director of Educational Initiatives), operating from a single headquarters office in St. Louis, Missouri.

Name

HEC Media

Legal name

HEC-TV

Website

https://hecmedia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HEC Media (HEC-TV) is a St. Louis-based non-profit media organization that produces and distributes educational, arts, science, and cultural programming via broadcast television, ten themed YouTube channels, and its website, serving St. Louis metropolitan viewers, K-12 educators, and community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational and Cultural Public Television Programming

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

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), Footage & Stock Media Licensing (Archival/Newsreel/Stock) (MPADALAD)

Keywords

• Non-profit media production
• Educational television programming
• Arts and culture content
• Documentary video production
• Community broadcasting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgeton

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, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Public Support: HEC Media operates as a non-profit organization accepting donations from the public to support its mission of spotlighting exceptional programs, people, and untapped potential in St. Louis communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HEC Media produces and distributes non-profit educational, arts, science, cultural, and historical television programming and digital content for the St. Louis metropolitan area. Core offerings include the flagship weekly Spotlight STL broadcast program, the History Spotlight documentary series, HEC Films, theater reviews (Two on the Aisle), and free classroom video resources (Educate.Today). Content is delivered through broadcast television, cable, a ten-channel YouTube network, and the organization's website.

Product overview

HEC Media operates as a non-profit television and digital media organization serving the St. Louis region. The company produces and distributes educational and cultural programming across multiple platforms including broadcast television (Channel 11, Charter Cable Channel 989), YouTube (with 10 branded channels), and its website. The core offerings consist of Spotlight STL (the flagship weekly program), History Spotlight (historical documentary series), and HEC Films (award-winning documentaries). These are complemented by 10 branded YouTube channels covering specific content verticals (Who Else Loves History?, Who Else Loves Art?, Innovation in Action, Storyteller's Studio, The Arts Experience, Aspire and Celebrate, Her in History, Celebrating Us) and educational resources including Videos for the Classroom, Educate.Today resource library, and the Classroom Matters Podcast. The content portfolio spans arts (including Two on the Aisle theater reviews), education, culture, science & technology, history, community, and books/literary content. Distribution occurs via weekly TV broadcasts, multiple YouTube channels with varying publication schedules, and the organization's website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spotlight STL Emmy-winning weekly television program highlighting the St. Louis region's education, science, history, culture, and community life, with new episodes premiering weekly on STL KPLR and YouTube.
• History Spotlight Series within Spotlight focusing on the people, places, and events that shaped St. Louis history, featuring public historians and archival content.
• HEC Films Award-winning documentary productions exploring stories that shape St. Louis and the world, including historical documentaries, cultural features, and local interest films.
• Who Else Loves History? YouTube channel featuring long-form historical videos published Tuesdays and Fridays, and daily shorts, covering American and St. Louis history.
• Who Else Loves Art? YouTube channel focused on visual arts, dance, music, and theater content, with long-form videos every other Tuesday and shorts on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
• Innovation in Action YouTube channel covering science and technology news and innovations, with long-form videos every other Wednesday and shorts on Sundays and Tuesdays.
• Storyteller's Studio YouTube channel featuring interviews with authors of fiction and non-fiction books across diverse genres.
• The Arts Experience YouTube channel exploring creative worlds of dance, music, theatre and visual arts, with new long-form videos published every Friday.
• Aspire and Celebrate YouTube channel celebrating Black achievement, culture, and history with long-form videos every other Friday and shorts on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Her in History YouTube channel celebrating stories of women both current and historic, with long-form videos published every other Wednesday.
• Celebrating Us YouTube channel exploring America's rich cultural landscape, featuring people, locations, topics, and experiences, with new long-form videos published every Wednesday.
• Educate.Today Free library of classroom video resources accompanied by teaching ideas designed to challenge student thinking, inspire creativity, and empower learning.
• Two on the Aisle Theater review series covering St. Louis theatrical productions, including reviews of musicals, plays, and performances at venues like The Muny, Union Avenue Opera, and regional theater companies.
• Videos for the Classroom Curated collection of educational videos organized by historical period, from Colonial America through the Great Depression, designed for classroom use.
• Classroom Matters Podcast Podcast hosted by Kristy Houle featuring interviews with people on important and interesting educational topics.
• Off the Shelf Virtual read-aloud series with authors designed to help children experience the power and possibilities of learning through books.
• Magazines Digital magazine publications including themed issues on arts, culture, innovation, and St. Louis community topics.
• Events Calendar Calendar of local St. Louis events covering arts, culture, education, music, theater, film, and community activities with filtering capabilities.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BioSTLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEC Media partners with BioSTL to cover the St. Louis agrifood and life sciences ecosystem, featuring segments on BioGenerator Startup Connect events and the Global AgriFood Innovation Summit.
• Missouri Botanical GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of Missouri Botanical Garden activities including the Seeds of Change conference and botanical research features.
• The MunycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEC Media produces documentaries and spotlight segments about The Muny, including the award-winning 'The Best of Us: 100 Seasons of Muny Magic' celebrating the outdoor theater's legacy.
• Washington University in St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of WashU research including tick hunter studies, Alzheimer's research, bioplastic innovation, and other science and technology stories.
• Saint Louis Art FairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary coverage of the Saint Louis Art Fair including 'Meet Me at the Fair: The Saint Louis Art Fair at 25 Years'.
• Saint Louis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of SLU's citizen science mosquito tracking program and other educational research initiatives.
• Arts and Education CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of St. Louis Arts Awards and partnership in promoting arts and education initiatives in the region.
• Danforth Plant Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of Seeds of Change conferences and conversations featuring Danforth Center scientists including Dr. Giles Oldroyd and Dr. Cary Fowler.
• STL KPLRcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partnership for Spotlight STL weekly program airing Sundays at 9:30 AM ET on Channel 11.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KPBS (San Diego): San Diego's public TV/radio station with strong educational and cultural programming. Same public-broadcasting operating model and donor-supported revenue structure as HEC Media.
• KQED: San Francisco Bay Area public television station with deep local arts, education, and science programming supported by multi-platform YouTube distribution. Same mission, funding model, and operational structure as HEC Media, scaled to a different media market.
• Nine PBS (Nine Network of Public Media): St. Louis's primary PBS member station and the most direct local competitor. Both produce and broadcast public-affairs, arts, and educational programming for the same regional audience using a similar donation/membership model.
• WNET (THIRTEEN): New York metropolitan area public television station producing and broadcasting cultural, educational, and documentary content. Closely matches HEC Media's production + broadcast + digital model in a different region.
• KCET (PBS SoCal): Los Angeles public television station focused on arts, culture, education, and community storytelling. Comparable as a community-anchored PBS-style broadcaster with strong digital content franchises.
• WTTW Chicago: Chicago's public television station producing local arts, history, and educational programming across broadcast and digital channels. Directly comparable Midwestern peer with similar mission and revenue mix.

Emerging players

• StoryCorps: National non-profit storytelling organization with a strong digital and broadcast footprint focused on community narratives. Overlaps with HEC Media's local-storytelling and history programming mission.
• Curiosity Stream: Subscription streaming service for documentary and educational content covering science, history, and technology. Targets similar viewer interests as HEC Media's Innovation in Action, Who Else Loves History, and related YouTube channels.

Others

• PRX (Public Radio Exchange): Public media distribution and podcast network serving non-commercial stations. Comparable operating environment for podcast distribution (HEC's Classroom Matters) and radio-to-digital repurposing.

Broad incumbents

• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): The national public television network that distributes programming from and to local member stations. HEC Media operates in the same PBS-style non-commercial broadcasting space but at a single-station scale within the larger network ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@spotlightstl
• Xx.com/hec_tv
• Facebookfacebook.com/hectv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/higher-education-channel-television

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 HEC Media