Ball State PBS

What Ball State PBS does

Ball State PBS (formerly WIPB-TV) is a non-commercial public television station licensed to Ball State University, headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. Founded in 1971 as Eastern Indiana Community Television and rebranded around 2021, the station now operates as part of Ball State Public Media alongside Indiana Public Radio. It broadcasts over-the-air via digital transmission to 27 Indiana counties and 3 Ohio counties, covering approximately 1,550,580 people and 664,124 television households across 17,765 square kilometers, supported by a staff of approximately 11 people spanning programming, engineering, content production, membership, and media sales functions.

The station distributes content across multiple platforms including digital broadcast, website livestream, the PBS Video App, mobile applications for iOS and Android, AT&T U-Verse, Apple TV, and social media channels (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X). Core products include the main broadcast feed, PBS Passport (a member-benefit on-demand streaming service priced at $60 annually or $5 monthly), live TV streaming, and locally-produced programs including Cardinal Compass (Ball State president-led campus-community discussions), Health is Wealth (wellness programming), and the Now Entering... documentary series (currently in its eighth season covering Indiana towns). The station also operates interactive Bob Ross-themed digital experiences (Quote Generator and Painting Builder) developed by Ball State's Digital Corps, and runs community events including the Regional Spelling Bee, Be My Neighbor Day, and Happy Little Fest in partnership with Bob Ross Inc. and Minnetrista Museum & Gardens. Ball State PBS holds historical distinction as the producing station for The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross from 1983 to 1994, filming 30 seasons in Muncie.

Revenue is generated through six primary streams: individual memberships (starting at $40 annually or $5 monthly), corporate underwriting from local and regional businesses, federal and state funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), institutional support from Ball State University, planned giving and legacy gifts (charitable bequests, annuities, trusts), and vehicle donations through a partnership with CARS. The station does not disclose specific financial figures and operates as a non-profit educational entity governed by the Ball State University Board of Trustees, which also serves in place of the Community Advisory Board required by CPB guidelines.

Name

Ball State PBS

Legal name

Ball State PBS (WIPB-TV)

Website

https://ballstatepbs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ball State PBS is a non-commercial public television station licensed to Ball State University, serving 27 Indiana counties and 3 Ohio counties with broadcast programming, locally-produced documentaries, community events, and digital streaming through PBS Passport and mobile platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Broadcasting Services

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College-licensed Public Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• Educational media programming
• Local content production
• PBS membership services
• Community media station

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: Individual support through memberships starting at $40 annually, with sustaining monthly giving options at $5 or more, and Passport membership at $60 annually or $5 monthly. Provides tax deduction benefits and Indiana state tax credits.
2. Corporate Underwriting: Local, state, and regional businesses provide program and event underwriting with on-air acknowledgment. Multiple corporate underwriters listed including healthcare, financial services, automotive, and local businesses.
3. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Legacy Society includes charitable bequests, life insurance gifts, retirement plan beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts for long-term support.
4. Vehicle and Asset Donations: Vehicle donation program through CARS partnership allowing donors to contribute cars, boats, motorcycles, and trucks with proceeds supporting programming.
5. Federal and State Funding: Funding from Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and state sources as part of the public broadcasting system.
6. Ball State University Support: Institutional support from Ball State University as the licensee, including facilities, equipment, and operational resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ball State PBS is a non-commercial public television station licensed to Ball State University that broadcasts PBS network programming, produces original local content (Cardinal Compass, Health is Wealth, Now Entering...), and provides live streaming and PBS Passport on-demand access to viewers across 27 Indiana counties and 3 Ohio counties. The station also operates community events and the Public Media Accelerator student fellowship program, supported through memberships, corporate underwriting, and federal/state funding.

Product overview

Ball State PBS operates as a public television station (formerly WIPB-TV) licensed to Ball State University, offering broadcast television, live streaming, and digital content distribution. The core offering includes the main broadcast station with local programming, supplemented by PBS Passport (an on-demand streaming benefit for members at $60+/year), live TV streaming, and locally-produced programs including Cardinal Compass, Health is Wealth, and the Now Entering... documentary series. The station also runs community events (Regional Spelling Bee, Be My Neighbor Day, Happy Little Fest) and educational programs (Public Media Accelerator student fellowships). Digital experiences include interactive Bob Ross-themed tools (Quote Generator, Painting Builder) created by Ball State's Digital Corps. Content is distributed across multiple platforms including the PBS Video App, Apple TV, mobile apps, YouTube, and social media channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Public Media Accelerator (PMX): Student fellowship program providing opportunities to work at Indiana Public Radio and Ball State PBS while exploring careers in public media.

Products and services

• Ball State PBS Main Broadcast The primary public television broadcast station serving east-central Indiana and west-central Ohio, airing PBS network programming, local content, and news. Operates from studios on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
• PBS Passport A member benefit providing extended on-demand access to a library of quality public television programming including episodes from American Experience, American Masters, Antiques Roadshow, Nature, NOVA, and Masterpiece. Available for donors contributing $60 or more annually or $5 or more monthly.
• Live TV Streaming Real-time streaming of Ball State PBS broadcast programming via the station's website, allowing viewers to watch live television content on digital devices.
• Cardinal Compass A locally-produced program exploring connections between Muncie and Ball State University, featuring President Geoffrey S. Mearns and guests discussing challenges and opportunities. Produced by Ball State students in the College of Communication, Information and Media.
• Health is Wealth

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bob Ross Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBob Ross Inc. is the trademark holder for Bob Ross and The Joy of Painting. Ball State PBS, as the producing station for the show from 1983-1994, maintains a partnership for Happy Little Fest celebrations, Bob's Happy Home museum experience at Minnetrista, and interactive digital experiences including the Bob Ross Quote Generator and Painting Builder.
• Minnetrista Museum & GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnetrista Museum & Gardens hosts Happy Little Fest annually and is home to THE BOB ROSS EXPERIENCE exhibit in the original yellow house where The Joy of Painting was filmed. The partnership includes studio tours during events and joint programming celebrating Bob Ross's legacy.
• Indiana Public RadiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Public Radio operates alongside Ball State PBS as Ball State Public Media, sharing administrative structure, student fellowship programs (PMX), newsletters, and community engagement initiatives. Both stations are licensed to Ball State University.
• Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIPBS is the state association for Indiana's public broadcasting stations. PMX fellows have opportunities to participate in IPBS webinars and other learning opportunities as part of the program's professional development offerings.
• Scripps National Spelling BeecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBall State PBS serves as the regional host for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, advancing winners to compete in the national finals. The station has produced 50+ champion spellers advancing to national competition over the years.
• MidasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMidas is the presenting sponsor for Be My Neighbor Day, supporting the family-friendly community event featuring Daniel Tiger from PBS KIDS.
• CARS (Charitable Automotive Recovery Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCARS handles vehicle donation logistics for Ball State PBS, arranging pickup, auction, and proceeds transfer while providing donors with giving statements for tax purposes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Public Television: Statewide public television network operated by the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Comparable as a university-system-licensed public broadcasting network serving a defined regional market.
• WUCF TV: University of Central Florida-licensed public television station. Highly comparable as a university-licensed PBS station with similar institutional structure and educational mission.

Broad incumbents

• WETA: Washington DC-area public broadcasting station producing PBS NewsHour and Washington Week. Comparable as a major public broadcaster with national programming production role.
• KQED: San Francisco Bay Area public media organization operating TV and radio stations with significant local and national programming. Comparable as a large multi-platform public broadcaster.
• WTTW: Chicago-based public television station producing local and national programming. Comparable as a major-market PBS station with original content production.
• WGBH (GBH): Boston-based flagship PBS station and major producer of national PBS programming (Frontline, NOVA, American Experience). Compares as a much larger public broadcasting station with deep original content production capabilities.
• WNET: New York metro public television operator of WNET/WLIW21 producing PBS national programming including Great Performances. Comparable as a large non-commercial broadcaster with significant original production.

Regional players

• WFYI Public Broadcasting: Indianapolis-based public radio and television station serving central Indiana. Closest geographic peer within Indiana with overlapping coverage and similar university/community license structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wipb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ballstatepbs
• Facebookfacebook.com/WIPBTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ball-state-pbs
• Instagraminstagram.com/ballstatepublicmedia
• TikToktiktok.com/@ballstatepublicmedia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Ball State PBS