What Montana Pbs does

Montana PBS is a non-commercial public television service operating under the Montana University System through two licensed stations, KUSM-TV in Bozeman and KUFM-TV in Missoula, both governed by the Montana Board of Regents. Founded on October 1, 1984 with the first Montana-originated PBS signal from Montana State University, it became a CPB-certified PBS member station in 1987 and a unified statewide service following the 1997 Montana State University / University of Montana affiliation agreement. It reaches 400+ Montana communities and 800,000+ households via over-the-air digital broadcast (five subchannels: MontanaPBS HD, Kids, Create, World, and MPAN government coverage), cable, satellite (Dish Network, DirectTV), the watch.montanapbs.org streaming platform, and the PBS app, supported by a staff of 40+ split across the Bozeman and Missoula campuses.

The product surface combines national PBS programming with locally produced series and documentaries including Backroads of Montana, 11th and Grant, Montana Ag Live, Montana PBS Reports: IMPACT, and Mavericks. Education is a distinct vertical offering Media Mavericks curriculum, PBS LearningMedia resources with Montana-specific content such as the Parks of Montana collection, PBS KIDS Teacher's Box subscriptions, and Kindergarten Readiness Kits distributed statewide. MPAN, launched November 2018 in partnership with the Montana Legislative Services Division, provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of state legislative, executive, and judicial proceedings.

Montana PBS monetizes through a diversified non-profit revenue stack: individual memberships (Guide $35/year, Passport $5/month or $60/year, Pets Club, Kids Club $5-$10/month, Leadership Society tiers from $1,000 to $10,000+), corporate underwriting reaching 400+ communities, federal CPB grants (severely disrupted in 2025), state appropriations through the Board of Regents, planned giving/IRA rollovers/vehicle donations/specialty license plate proceeds, and unit-priced DVD sales ($14.95-$29.95). Customer segments span Montana households, PreK-12 educators, independent filmmakers, corporate underwriters, and state government. Community engagement is anchored by the Friends of Montana PBS 501(c)(3) and the annual Neighbor Day event, which drew 850-1,000+ visitors in 2024-2025.

Name

Montana Pbs

Legal name

Montana Public Broadcasting Service

Website

https://montanapbs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Montana PBS is a non-profit public television service operating KUSM-TV and KUFM-TV under the Montana University System, delivering statewide PBS programming, local documentaries, educational resources, and legislative coverage to 800,000+ Montana households via broadcast, cable, satellite, and streaming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH), Public/Nonprofit Children’s Educational Broadcasters (MPABAKAF), State/Regional Public Broadcasting Networks & Consortia (MPABADAC)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• Educational content services
• Membership fundraising programs
• Digital broadcast network
• Community media production

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Individual membership contributions ranging from basic $35/year guide membership to Passport ($5/month or $60/year), Leadership Society ($1,000+/year), Kids Club, and Pets Club memberships. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
2. Underwriting and Business Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors underwrite programming, sponsor events, and take active role in enhancing services. Underwriting delivers targeted audiences of upscale, well-educated viewers to over 400 Montana communities and 800,000+ households.
3. Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Grants: Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which certified KUSM as a PBS member station in 1987. CPB requires annual independent audits.
4. DVD and Program Sales: Sale of locally produced documentary DVDs ranging from $14.95 to $29.95, including Backroads of Montana series, Ivan Doig, Indian Relay, Mavericks, and other Montana-focused productions. Shipping $5 per DVD domestically.
5. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, retirement plans, life insurance, stocks and securities, real estate, charitable lead trusts, and charitable remainder trusts through Legacy Society with $10,000+ bequests receiving lifetime membership.
6. Gifts of Stock: Donations of stock and securities accepted through DA Davidson, Bozeman, MT, with DTC# 000000361, Acct# 22525981 (Friends of MontanaPBS).
7. IRA Charitable Rollover: Qualified charitable distributions from IRAs for donors 70½ years and older, with gifts up to $100,000 excluded from federal income (couples can exclude up to $200,000). Counts toward required minimum distribution.
8. Specialty License Plate: Montana PBS specialty license plates available through county treasurer offices, with proceeds funding early childhood education, news/public affairs programming, and local documentaries.
9. Vehicle Donations: Donation program for cars, trucks, boats, trailers, and other vehicles through Careasy.org, with proceeds supporting Montana PBS. Donors receive 1-year membership regardless of auction amount.
10. State Appropriations: First appropriation of state money to public broadcasting in Montana, allocated by the Montana Board of Regents after joint proposal from Montana State University and University of Montana stations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Montana PBS is a statewide public television broadcasting service that distributes educational, news, public affairs, and entertainment programming across Montana through a five-channel digital subchannel network (MontanaPBS HD, Kids, Create, World, MPAN), over-the-air broadcast, cable, satellite, online streaming (watch.montanapbs.org), and the PBS mobile app. It also produces original local programming such as Backroads of Montana, 11th and Grant, Montana Ag Live, Montana PBS Reports: IMPACT, and Mavericks, alongside educational resources for PreK-12 teachers and families through Media Mavericks, PBS LearningMedia, PBS KIDS Teacher's Box, and Kindergarten Readiness Kits.

Product overview

Montana PBS is a public broadcasting service offering a multi-channel television network with digital subchannels, streaming video platform, and educational programs. The core offerings include: Montana PBS (primary HD channel with national PBS and local programming), Montana PBS Kids (children's educational channel), Montana PBS Create (lifestyle/how-to channel), Montana PBS World (documentaries/news), and MPAN (government affairs coverage). Local productions include 11th and Grant, Backroads of Montana, Montana Ag Live, Montana PBS Reports: IMPACT, and Mavericks. The education division provides Media Mavericks curriculum, PBS LearningMedia resources, PBS KIDS Teacher's Box subscriptions, and Kindergarten Readiness Kits. Members receive Montana PBS Passport for extended streaming access. Content is distributed via over-the-air broadcast, cable, satellite (Dish Network), and the watch.montanapbs.org streaming platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN): Statewide television channel providing unedited, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Montana Legislature and other state government proceedings
• Neighbor Day
• Montana PBS Passport
• Montana PBS Kids
• Montana PBS Create
• Montana PBS World

Products and services

• Montana PBS Passport
• Montana PBS Kids 24/7 educational children's programming channel broadcast over-the-air as a digital subchannel, providing age-appropriate content for children alongside parents-focused programming for families across Montana.
• Montana PBS Create Lifestyle and how-to programming service broadcast as a digital subchannel, featuring cooking, arts, crafts, and DIY content for Montana viewers.
• Montana PBS World Non-fiction science, nature, news, public affairs, and documentary channel broadcast as a digital subchannel serving Montana audiences.
• Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN) Statewide government broadcasting service providing unedited, gavel-to-gavel coverage of Montana Legislative proceedings, executive branch actions, judicial branch events, and civic educational programming, reaching 225+ communities through broadcast and streaming.
• 11th and Grant Montana PBS's flagship music performance series featuring local and regional musicians, continuing production since the 2000s.

Quantifiable outcome

• Neighbor Day 2024: 23 community partners, 1,000+ visitors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Montana Legislative Services DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN) operates as a partnership with Legislative Services Division. Montana PBS produces and broadcasts all MPAN content, while Legislative Services Division uses MPAN video for their live streaming service.
• Montana State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU Bozeman houses KUSM-TV headquarters and production facilities. MSU's Visual Communications Building (completed 1983) serves as primary station base. MSU employs large number of students including athletics production team broadcasting to ESPN+.
• University of MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUM Missoula houses KUFM-TV and Broadcast Media Center, home of Director Anne Hosler. UM School of Journalism students participate in Montana PBS election coverage and public affairs programs.
• Montana Board of RegentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body responsible for Montana PBS and its licensed stations, with full power over the Montana University System. Seven members appointed by Governor to seven-year overlapping terms, including one student member.
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing funding and oversight for public broadcasting. Certified KUSM as PBS member station in 1987. Requires annual independent audits of Montana PBS financials.
• Friends of Montana PBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting Montana PBS through advocacy, community engagement, and fundraising. Founded in 1985, one year after KUSM launch. EIN 81-0426350. Board chair Peg Wherry with statewide regional representation.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing programming, technology infrastructure, PBS app, national brand, and system affiliation. Montana PBS participates in national initiatives including ITVS Open Call for independent producers.
• Independent Television Service (ITVS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational funding service helping independent producers enter production partnerships with public television stations. Montana PBS participates in Open Call initiative for documentary funding and co-production support.
• Greater Montana FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional funding organization benefiting Montana through communication, with emphasis on electronic media on issues, trends, and values important to Montanans. Located at 1417 Helena Avenue, Helena MT.
• Montana Committee for the HumanitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMontana's nonprofit affiliate of National Endowment for the Humanities, supporting learning and public programs in history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines. Located at Brantly Hall, University of Montana, Missoula.
• KUED-TV Salt Lake City (Historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership (1984-1987) where KUSM rebroadcast KUED signal before becoming full PBS member station. KUED manager Fred Esplin helped transition Montana donors to KUSM over 3-year phase-out period.
• MSU Athletics / ESPN+minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMontana PBS athletics production team broadcasts majority of MSU athletic events to ESPN+ including football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, and rodeo.
• Montana Public Radio (MTPR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity of Montana public radio service (also at mtpr.net). Listed as related broadcast organization and business partner.
• Yellowstone Public RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMSU-Billings public radio service with studios in Billings and Bozeman. Listed as related broadcast organization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): Federal funding entity that certifies PBS member stations and distributes federal appropriations. The principal upstream counterparty for Montana PBS's federal funding and regulatory oversight.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): The national parent organization providing programming, app infrastructure, and system affiliation to Montana PBS and other member stations. Comparable as the overarching public broadcasting ecosystem, but operates at vastly larger scale.
• NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association): Professional association of public television stations that provides programming, education services, and industry recognition (Montana PBS's Parks of Montana collection was a 2023 NETA finalist). Comparable as the broader public media ecosystem.

Regional players

• KCTS 9 (Seattle): PBS member station serving the Pacific Northwest with similar educational and public affairs programming. Comparable in PBS member station structure but operates in a different geographic market than Montana PBS.

Others

• PBS LearningMedia: PBS's national digital education platform hosting Montana PBS's Parks of Montana collection. Comparable as the educational content delivery infrastructure that Montana PBS extends into Montana classrooms.

Direct peers

• Oregon Public Broadcasting: PBS member network serving Oregon and southern Washington with multiple TV/radio channels, news, and educational content. Comparable in public broadcasting mission but operates at meaningfully larger scale than Montana PBS.
• Wyoming PBS: Wyoming's statewide PBS member station, also serving a small rural population with educational programming, public affairs coverage, and state government broadcasting. Closely comparable in scale, geographic constraints, and revenue model.
• Nebraska Public Media: PBS and NPR member network serving Nebraska, providing statewide news, education, and public affairs. Comparable geography (sparse rural population), multi-university licensing (University of Nebraska), and educational mission.
• Idaho Public Television: A state-level PBS member network serving Idaho, operating multiple digital subchannels with public affairs, education, and local programming. Directly comparable in mission, funding model (CPB/state appropriations/membership), and rural-state coverage mandate.
• Vermont Public: Vermont's statewide public broadcasting service operating TV and radio with similar education, civic, and community-focused programming. Comparable in serving a small rural New England state with a membership-driven funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MontanaPBS
• Facebookfacebook.com/MontanaPBS
• Instagraminstagram.com/montana_pbs
• Xx.com/montanapbs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Montana Pbs