WXXI Public Broadcasting Council
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is a nonprofit PBS and NPR member station serving the Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Western New York regions through four TV channels, six-plus radio stations, digital streaming, education services, CITY Magazine, and The Little Theatre cinema.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersRochester, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What WXXI Public Broadcasting Council does
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is a nonprofit public media organization headquartered at 280 State Street in Rochester, New York, founded in 1958 and operating across the Greater Rochester metropolitan area, the Finger Lakes region, and Western New York. The organization delivers multi-platform public media services through four over-the-air digital television channels (WXXI-TV, WXXI World, WXXI Create, and WXXI Kids 24/7), six-plus radio stations (including WXXI-AM 1370, WXXI-FM 105.9, WXXO-FM 91.5 classical, and partnership stations WRUR-FM 88.5, WEOS-FM, and WITH-FM 90.1), and digital properties including the WXXI News and WXXI Classical websites, the PBS App, and the WXXI App. As a PBS and NPR member station, WXXI distributes flagship national programming while producing original local news, documentaries, and education content. The organization also operates The Little Theatre (cinema and cultural events), CITY Magazine (local Rochester publication), City 12 (a cable channel partnership with the City of Rochester), and WXXI Education (PBS LearningMedia, Jobs Explained career exploration, and educator professional development).
WXXI's revenue model is diversified across four primary streams: individual membership contributions and donations (with the WXXI Passport streaming benefit available at $5/month or $60/year), corporate sponsorship and underwriting, federal funding via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and production services for external clients. WXXI's customer base spans general public viewers and listeners, K-12 educators and students, and families with children, with distribution reaching approximately 11 counties via over-the-air broadcast and additional reach through Spectrum cable, DIRECTV, Dish Network, and digital streaming. In 2025, WXXI lost $1.9 million in annual federal funding due to Trump administration budget cuts at the CPB and is undergoing an organizational reinvention focused on expanding production services and partnership-based revenue to replace the lost grant support. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by President and CEO Chris Hastings, with a management team spanning technology, content, finance, education, programming, and development functions.
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WXXI Public Broadcasting Council
- Legal name
- WXXI Public Broadcasting Council
- Website
- https://wxxi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is a nonprofit PBS and NPR member station serving the Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Western New York regions through four TV channels, six-plus radio stations, digital streaming, education services, CITY Magazine, and The Little Theatre cinema.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Public Broadcasting Production Units & Studios (In-house/Member) (MPABADAF)
Keywords
Where WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: Individual member contributions and donations form a significant revenue stream. WXXI Passport membership benefits are offered at $5/month or $60/year.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship and underwriting deals with local and national businesses.
- Federal Funding: Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). WXXI lost $1.9 million in federal funding due to Trump administration budget cuts.
- Production Services: WXXI plans to expand production services as a revenue stream following federal funding losses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | WXXI Passport membership at $5/month or $60/year |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council operates a multi-platform public media network serving the Greater Rochester, New York region with PBS-affiliated television channels, NPR-affiliated radio stations, and digital streaming services. The organization produces local news and educational programming, publishes CITY Magazine, operates The Little Theatre (an independent cinema), and provides educational services to schools and community organizations. Revenue is generated through memberships, individual donations, corporate underwriting/sponsorships, federal and state grants, and production services.
Product overview
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is a public media organization operating a multi-channel, multi-platform portfolio centered on broadcast television, radio, digital news, and education services. The core TV portfolio includes WXXI-TV (main channel), WXXI World (documentaries and news), WXXI Create (lifestyle programming), and WXXI Kids 24/7, all distributed over-the-air and via Spectrum Cable. The radio portfolio spans WXXI-AM 1370, WXXI-FM 105.9, WXXO-FM 91.5 (classical), WXXY-FM 90.3, and partnership stations WRUR-FM 88.5, WEOS-FM, and WITH-FM 90.1, all streamable via direct stream URLs. The digital membership product WXXI Passport extends on-demand streaming access to PBS and WXXI content for contributing members. The education division (WXXI Education) curates PBS LearningMedia classroom resources, career exploration via American Graduate/Jobs Explained, family PBS KIDS materials, and professional development. Related brands include CITY Magazine, The Little (Little Theatre), and the America at 250 initiative, all positioned under the unified WXXI brand umbrella affiliated with PBS and NPR.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WXXI-TV: Primary television station with multiple channels including WXXI-HD, WXXI World, WXXI Create, and WXXI Kids 24/7
- WXXI World
- WXXI Create
- The Little Theatre
- CITY Magazine
- City 12
Products and services
- WXXI Public Television Service
- WXXI Radio Broadcasting Service
- WXXI Passport
- WXXI News
- CITY Magazine
- The Little Theatre
- WXXI Education Services
Companies that use WXXI Public Broadcasting Council
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreWXXI is a PBS member station, carrying PBS programming including Masterpiece, Great Performances, Antiques Roadshow, Ken Burns documentaries, and other PBS content. Programming is made available through the PBS network affiliation.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreWXXI is an NPR member station, providing NPR news programming including Morning Edition and All Things Considered to the Rochester community through its radio stations.
- University of Rochester (WRUR-FM 88.5)coreBroadcast partnership providing NPR news and eclectic music programming. WRUR-FM signal reaches eastern Orleans and Genesee counties, Livingston County, Ontario and Wayne counties, and portions of Wyoming and Yates counties. Morning programming from WXXI-AM 1370 is simulcast on WRUR-FM 88.5.
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (WEOS-FM)coreNPR station partnership providing 24 hours of NPR news programs and eclectic entertainment to the Finger Lakes area. WEOS-FM signal reaches from Honeoye Lake to Otisco Lake, north to Lyons, and south to Dundee.
- City of Rochester (City 12)minorUnique relationship between the City of Rochester and WXXI Public Broadcasting Council. City 12 is offered only on cable within the City of Rochester limits, providing practical life skills information tailored to urban environments.
- The WNET GroupminorWXXI participates in the national Jobs Explained initiative led by The WNET Group with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This initiative produces short-form videos on social media spotlighting in-demand careers.
- Monroe Community College (MCC)minorMCC serves as a rain location for Hochstein at High Falls concerts and partner for community events like the Make a Circle screening.
- High Falls Business AssociationminorCo-presenter of the Hochstein at High Falls lunchtime summer concert series at Granite Mills Park in Rochester.
- The Hochstein SchoolminorCo-presenter of the Hochstein at High Falls concert series, bringing local music performances to the Rochester community.
- KQEDminorSan Francisco-based public media station collaborating with WXXI on educator webinars and the American Revolution Youth Media Challenge through PBS LearningMedia.
- National History DayminorNonprofit education organization partnering with WXXI on educator webinars focused on student-created history documentaries and the American Revolution.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WHYY: Philadelphia regional PBS and NPR member station operating TV, radio, and education services. WHYY is directly comparable to WXXI in scope, multi-channel distribution, public journalism, and educational programming partnerships.
- WETA: Washington, D.C. area PBS member station producing flagship PBS content. WETA is directly comparable to WXXI as a regional PBS affiliate with original production, educational outreach, and broadcast distribution.
- WNET: New York flagship PBS member station operating television channels and digital properties. WNET is directly comparable as a large-market PBS affiliate producing original programming, education content, and operating under the same PBS network framework as WXXI.
- WGBH: Boston-based PBS member station and one of the largest producers of PBS content nationally. WGBH is directly comparable to WXXI in operating PBS-affiliated TV channels, radio services, educational programming, and cultural content initiatives.
- KQED: San Francisco Bay Area PBS and NPR member station. KQED operates TV channels, radio stations, KQED Learning, and digital news—matching WXXI's multi-platform public media structure, and is already a confirmed WXXI collaborator on educator webinars.
- Twin Cities PBS (TPT): Minneapolis–St. Paul PBS member station operating multiple channels (TPT 2, TPT Life, TPT Kids) and digital education services. TPT is directly comparable to WXXI's multi-channel TV portfolio and educational programming focus.
- Louisiana Public Broadcasting: Statewide PBS and NPR member network operating multiple TV channels and radio stations across Louisiana. LPB is directly comparable to WXXI as a public broadcaster dependent on CPB funding facing similar federal defunding exposure.
- ideastream Public Media: Cleveland-area public media organization operating WVIZ (PBS), WCPN (NPR), and a classical music station. ideastream mirrors WXXI's structure of combined TV, news/talk NPR, and classical FM services under one nonprofit.
- NET (Nebraska Educational Telecommunications): Nebraska's statewide public media network operating TV channels, radio stations, and educational services. NET is directly comparable to WXXI as a multi-platform, multi-station nonprofit broadcaster reliant on member support and federal funding.
Regional players
- WMHT: Capital District (Albany/Schenectady) PBS and NPR member station serving an adjacent New York region. WMHT is comparable to WXXI as a New York State public broadcaster with similar broadcast portfolio but does not overlap geographically in Rochester.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council social profiles
Digital presenceWXXI Public Broadcasting Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WXXI Public Broadcasting Council
What does WXXI Public Broadcasting Council do?
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council operates a multi-platform public media network serving the Greater Rochester, New York region with PBS-affiliated television channels, NPR-affiliated radio stations, and digital streaming services. The organization produces local news and educational programming, publishes CITY Magazine, operates The Little Theatre (an independent cinema), and provides educational services to schools and community organizations. Revenue is generated through memberships, individual donations, corporate underwriting/sponsorships, federal and state grants, and production services.
Is WXXI Public Broadcasting Council a public or private company?
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WXXI Public Broadcasting Council founded?
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council was founded in 1958. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is WXXI Public Broadcasting Council based?
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council is headquartered in Rochester, United States, in the North America region.
How does WXXI Public Broadcasting Council make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship, federal Funding and production Services.
Who are WXXI Public Broadcasting Council's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WHYY, WETA, WNET, WGBH, KQED, Twin Cities PBS (TPT), Louisiana Public Broadcasting, ideastream Public Media and NET (Nebraska Educational Telecommunications). WMHT is listed as a regional player.
Does WXXI Public Broadcasting Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for WXXI Public Broadcasting Council.
What industry is WXXI Public Broadcasting Council in?
WXXI Public Broadcasting Council's product category is Public Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 5161 and its SIC code is 4833.