KTWU
KTWU is a nonprofit PBS member television station owned by Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, broadcasting since 1965 across three digital channels to 39 counties in eastern Kansas and neighboring states, funded primarily by individual memberships, corporate underwriting, and university and state support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersTopeka, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KTWU does
KTWU is a nonprofit public television station licensed to and operated by Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, broadcasting continuously since 1965. The station transmits on DTV Channel 11 (198-204 MHz) at 76,000 watts effective radiated power from a 991-foot tower, with three digital channels: KTWU HD (11.1), KTWU World (11.2) for international and public affairs content, and KTWU Enhance/FNX (11.3) with First Nations Experience programming. A K30AL-LD translator added in 2025 extends coverage into southeast Kansas. The combined broadcast footprint reaches 39 counties across eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, with content also distributed via cable, satellite (DirecTV, DISH), and streaming platforms including the PBS App, YouTube TV, Hulu, Roku, and Apple TV.
The station produces a deep slate of original local programming including the long-running documentary series Sunflower Journeys (over 900 episodes), Theatre of the Mind radio dramas, Portrait of a Landscape nature documentaries, and community affairs shows like I've Got Issues and Inspire. Several productions are nationally distributed through American Public Television, including Make48 and My World Too. Educational content is delivered through PBS Learning Media and PBS Kids programming.
KTWU's revenue model combines individual membership donations (tiers from $96/year basic to $10,000+/year Guardian, with over 2,000 sustaining monthly donors), corporate underwriting of programs, event sponsorships, grants from the State of Kansas and historically the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, direct institutional support from Washburn University, and planned gifts channeled through the Washburn University Foundation. The station is governed by Washburn University administration and operates with roughly 25 staff led by General Manager Valerie M.B. VanDerSluis. Federal funding for local public broadcasting has been eliminated, making individual membership the primary funding source and intensifying reliance on donor cultivation and corporate underwriting.
KTWU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KTWU
- Legal name
- KTWU Public Television
- Website
- https://ktwu.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KTWU is a nonprofit PBS member television station owned by Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, broadcasting since 1965 across three digital channels to 39 counties in eastern Kansas and neighboring states, funded primarily by individual memberships, corporate underwriting, and university and state support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KTWU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Television Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds) (MPABADAI)
Keywords
Where KTWU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Topeka
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
KTWU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Individual Member Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individual viewers who become members. Includes one-time gifts and sustaining monthly contributions. Provides foundation of support for station operations.
- Corporate Underwriting: Program underwriting by businesses - credits at start and end of programs. Also includes embedded spots within certain programs that run every time the program airs. Tax-deductible.
- Government Grants: Annual public service grant from Corporation for Public Broadcasting and annual grant from State of Kansas.
- Program and Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship of specific programs and annual special events like golf tournament and car show.
- Washburn University Support: Operational and institutional support from license holder Washburn University.
- Planned Gifts: Estate planning donations through Washburn University Foundation, including wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Basic Membership - $96/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustainer Plans - Starting at $8/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Producers Club - $500+/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Leadership - $1000+/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Benefactor - $2500+/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron - $5000+/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Guardian - $10000+/year |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | One-Time Donation Options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
KTWU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KTWU is a nonprofit public television station that broadcasts three digital channels (KTWU HD 11.1, KTWU World 11.2, KTWU Enhance/FNX 11.3) 24 hours per day, delivering PBS national programming and locally produced content to 39 counties in eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The station offers KTWU Passport on-demand streaming for members contributing $96 or more annually, and produces Emmy-nominated local programming including Sunflower Journeys, Theatre of the Mind, and Portrait of a Landscape.
Product overview
KTWU is a public television station licensed to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, broadcasting since 1965 across three digital channels: KTWU (Channel 11.1) as the primary HD channel, KTWU World (Channel 11.2) for international and public affairs programming, and KTWU Enhance/FNX (Channel 11.3) for enhanced content. The station offers KTWU Passport as a streaming add-on for members. KTWU produces original local programming including documentary series like Sunflower Journeys, Portrait of a Landscape, and Theatre of the Mind; community affairs shows like I've Got Issues and Inspire; and distributes nationally through PBS and American Public Television. The station provides educational resources through PBS Learning Media and children's programming via PBS KIDS. Viewership is available over-the-air, via cable, satellite, and livestreaming platforms including YouTube TV, Hulu, Roku, Apple TV, and SmartTV.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KTWU World: Second digital channel broadcast on 11.2
- KTWU Enhance/FNX
Products and services
- KTWU (Channel 11.1)
Companies that use KTWU
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KTWU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature1 record
KTWU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreKTWU is a member of PBS, receiving access to national public television programming including Masterpiece, Nature, NOVA, Sesame Street, and other PBS content.
- NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association)coreKTWU is a member of NETA for access to educational telecommunications content and resources.
- PTPA (Public Television Programming Association)coreKTWU is a member of PTPA for public television programming distribution.
- APT (American Public Television)coreKTWU is a member of APT for access to American public television programming.
- EPS (Executive Program Services)coreKTWU is a member of EPS for executive program services.
- Washburn UniversitycoreKTWU license is held by Washburn University with studios on the Washburn campus. The university provides institutional support and operational backing.
- Washburn University FoundationmajorPartnership with Washburn University Foundation for planned giving through Giving Docs platform - a free estate planning tool for viewers. Federal Tax ID: 48-6105561.
- Outpost WorldwideminorPartnership with Make48 invention competition - Outpost Worldwide is a partner in the competition format and production.
- American Public TelevisioncoreMake48 and other KTWU productions are distributed nationwide to public television stations by American Public Television.
- Dillons (Kroger)minorDaily giving opportunity through Dillons Community Rewards program - shoppers designate KTWU as recipient and donations are made when using Plus Shopper Card.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KTWU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KCPT (Kansas City PBS): Kansas City-area PBS member station operating in the same broadcast region as KTWU with comparable programming mix, member-funded model, and educational content focus—directly competing for the same donor and underwriting pool in eastern Kansas/western Missouri.
- Smoky Hills PBS (KOOD): Kansas public television station serving western Kansas with the same PBS affiliation structure, member-driven revenue model, and educational programming mandate. Directly comparable in regional mission and operational scale.
- KPTS (Wichita PBS): Another Kansas-based PBS member station serving south-central Kansas with a similar member-funded, multi-channel public broadcasting model. Comparable in size, education focus, and reliance on corporate underwriting and viewer contributions.
Broad incumbents
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): National umbrella organization for the PBS system of which KTWU is a member station. Sets programming, distribution, and member-benefit standards for KTWU (e.g., PBS Passport, PBS Learning Media) and is the largest incumbent in the public broadcasting space.
- WNET (New York): Major PBS member station producing flagship content (including Nature, Great Performances) that airs on KTWU. Shares the member-funded PBS model but operates at a much larger scale and produces programming for national distribution.
- WETA (Washington, DC): PBS member station serving the DC area and producing PBS NewsHour. Shares the educational/mission-driven mission and member-based revenue model but operates at a notably larger scale with more national production capacity.
- American Public Television (APT): Distributor that handles national distribution of KTWU originals like Make48 and My World Too. While a partner rather than a direct competitor, APT is a peer in the public television ecosystem and a key comparator for national distribution economics.
- WGBH (Boston): Large PBS member station and major national producer of public television content. Operates a significantly larger broadcast and digital operation than KTWU but shares the same member-funded, PBS-affiliated model and produces content distributed nationally to stations like KTWU.
Regional players
- Nebraska Public Media: Nebraska statewide public television and radio network. Comparable in funding model (member contributions, corporate underwriting, and state support) and educational mission, but operates in a different geographic territory.
- Iowa Public Television: Statewide public television network with a comparable multi-channel broadcast model and educational mission. Comparable in scale and funding structure but operates in a different geographic market without direct donor overlap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KTWU social profiles
Digital presenceKTWU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KTWU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
KTWU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KTWU 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 KTWU
What does KTWU do?
KTWU is a nonprofit public television station that broadcasts three digital channels (KTWU HD 11.1, KTWU World 11.2, KTWU Enhance/FNX 11.3) 24 hours per day, delivering PBS national programming and locally produced content to 39 counties in eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The station offers KTWU Passport on-demand streaming for members contributing $96 or more annually, and produces Emmy-nominated local programming including Sunflower Journeys, Theatre of the Mind, and Portrait of a Landscape.
Is KTWU a public or private company?
KTWU is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KTWU founded?
KTWU was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KTWU based?
KTWU is headquartered in Topeka, United States, in the North America region.
How does KTWU make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Member Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Underwriting, government Grants, program and Event Sponsorships, washburn University Support and planned Gifts.
Who are KTWU's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KCPT (Kansas City PBS), Smoky Hills PBS (KOOD) and KPTS (Wichita PBS). Broad incumbents are PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), WNET (New York), WETA (Washington, DC), American Public Television (APT) and WGBH (Boston). Regional players are Nebraska Public Media and Iowa Public Television.
Does KTWU have an API?
No public API is recorded for KTWU.
What industry is KTWU in?
KTWU's product category is Public Television Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAI, Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.