Community TV Network

What Community TV Network does

Community TV Network (CTVN) is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, that provides digital media education and professional video production training to underserved Chicago youth. Originally created as a special project of the Alternative Schools Network and incorporated independently in 1980 under Executive Director Denise Zaccardi, CTVN operates a progressive apprenticeship model (Apprentice through Executive Producer) delivered through after-school programs at its Youth Media Center and partner Chicago Public Schools, reaching 240 youth annually in the Digital Media Leadership Track and over 400 youth across all programs in fiscal year 2019. Since its founding, the organization has engaged more than 10,000 Chicago students in media literacy and video production instruction.

CTVN's product portfolio centers on three offerings: Hard Cover, a student-produced local cable news show launched in 1986 that is Chicago's longest-running student-run TV show; Video Services, a social enterprise that produces professional documentary and event video for Chicago non-profit clients (including Nobel Neighbors, Port Ministries, Homan Grown, Kalapriya Foundation, and Local Motions) while providing real-world production experience to youth producers; and the Digital Media Leadership Track, a structured after-school apprenticeship covering cinematography, lighting, sound recording, and digital editing using professional equipment such as Canon EOS C100, Panasonic Lumix GH5, and Blackmagic Cinema Camera bodies. The organization has earned recognition at the Smithsonian African-American Film Festival, CineYouth Festival, and Our Voices Film Festival, and has produced a documentary archive spanning from "La Esperanza" (1981) to recent work.

CTVN's revenue model combines donations and grants (from foundations including the Chicago Community Trust's Fund For Safe and Peaceful Communities and Voqal) with fee income from its Video Services social enterprise. Distribution occurs through direct program delivery at the Youth Media Center and partner schools, while content is distributed globally via YouTube and at cultural institutions including the National Museum of Mexican Art. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with a donation-supported non-profit model.

Name

Community TV Network

Legal name

Community TV Network

Website

https://ctvnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community TV Network is a Chicago-based non-profit founded in 1974 that trains underserved youth in digital media production through after-school apprenticeships, the Hard Cover student TV show, and a Video Services social enterprise serving Chicago non-profits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Media Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational/Public-Service Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAE), State/Regional Public Broadcasting Networks & Consortia (MPABADAC)

Keywords

• Youth media education
• Video production services
• Nonprofit media programs
• Digital media training
• Student journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organization, CTVN relies on donations from individuals and grants from foundations to fund operations and youth programs
2. Video Services Revenue: CTVN's social enterprise Video Services produces professional video content for Chicago non-profit clients, providing hands-on production experience to youth while generating revenue

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community TV Network is a non-profit youth media organization that provides digital media education and video production training to underserved Chicago youth through after-school apprenticeship programs, school-based partnerships, and a student-run TV show. It operates a Video Services social enterprise that produces professional video content for Chicago non-profit clients, giving youth real-world production experience while generating revenue to support the education mission.

Product overview

Community TV Network (CTVN) is a non-profit youth media organization that operates as a unified platform providing digital media education and production services. The core offerings include Hard Cover (the longest-running student-run TV show in Chicago since 1986), Video Services (professional client work), and the Digital Media Leadership Track (a structured apprenticeship program). These programs work together to empower underserved Chicago youth through hands-on video production training, from basic camera operations to advanced filmmaking, culminating in real-world production experience for community clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hard Cover: A local cable news show run by students for students, created in 1986. It has become the longest running student-run TV show in Chicago.
• Video Services

Products and services

• Hard Cover A student-produced local cable news show running since 1986, making it the longest-running student-run TV show in Chicago. Features diverse young voices and serves as a real-world production platform for youth participants in the Intern and Executive Producer apprenticeship levels.
• Video Services Professional video production services provided by youth filmmakers working alongside professional filmmakers on client projects for Chicago non-profit organizations. Generates revenue to support CTVN's mission while providing real-world production experience to youth.
• Digital Media Leadership Track After-school apprenticeship program where 240 youth annually learn camera operations, media literacy, the three-phase production cycle, and advance through progressive roles from Apprentice to Advanced Apprentice, Intern, and Executive Producer.
• Youth Media Programs Media literacy and video production programs for Chicago youth, including workshops, school-based programs, and after-school opportunities delivered through partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, alternative schools, and community organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ Chicago students have participated in CTVN programs since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Museum of Mexican ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative exhibition "40 Años: A la Esperanza" featuring CTVN's documentary "La Esperanza" about the creation of the historic mural at Benito Juarez High School. Partnership showcases youth media documenting community history.
• After School MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing after-school media programs for Chicago youth through programs like Youth Visions at Chatham Academy and video production classes.
• Alternative Schools NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding sponsor; CTVN was created as a special project of ASN in 1974 before becoming independent in 1980. Ongoing partnership for news literacy and alternative education programs.
• Prologue Early CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership delivering video production classes at Prologue Early College, co-taught by CTVN instructors. Students have produced award-winning work through this partnership.
• Sullivan House High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool-based program delivering film industry education to students through CTVN instructors for approximately two years.
• Last Decade, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company founder Aron Ianchici conducted portfolio-building workshop for CTVN youth producers, teaching demo reel creation and professional development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spy Hop Productions: Salt Lake City-based non-profit providing youth media production training in film, audio, and music. Comparable as a youth-focused media arts non-profit with progressive apprenticeship-style programs and award-winning student work.
• Global Action Project: NYC-based non-profit that works with young people to produce media for social justice causes. Comparable in its youth-led documentary production model targeting underserved communities and thematic focus on violence prevention and equity.
• Free Spirit Media: Chicago-based non-profit providing media arts education, video production training, and youth storytelling programs to underserved youth. Directly comparable as a same-city, same-mission youth media organization competing for the same grant dollars and school partnerships.
• Street Level Youth Media: Chicago non-profit teaching video production, media arts, and digital storytelling to underserved youth through school and after-school programs. Directly comparable in target population, training model, and Chicago-based grant-funded operations.
• Scribe Video Center: Philadelphia-based non-profit offering media arts education, documentary workshops, and youth production programs. Comparable as a long-standing community media education non-profit with similar curriculum, target audience, and funding model.
• Reel Works Teen Filmmaking: Brooklyn-based non-profit that mentors youth in documentary filmmaking through after-school apprenticeships and real client productions. Closely mirrors CTVN's apprenticeship ladder and social-enterprise approach to youth media production.
• Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV): New York City community media center offering filmmaking workshops, youth media education, and production facilities to under-resourced communities. Directly comparable as a long-running non-profit media arts education and production organization.

Broad incumbents

• PBS: National non-profit public television network with educational programming, teacher resources, and student media initiatives. Comparable as a large-scale public-service broadcasting and educational media organization operating in the same broad category.

Regional players

• Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV): Chicago's designated public access cable television network providing media training and channel access to local producers. Comparable as a Chicago-based community broadcasting and training organization, though broader in scope than CTVN's youth-only focus.

Others

• Adobe Youth Voices / Adobe Education: Adobe's youth media and education programs provided tools, curriculum, and grants to youth media organizations globally. Relevant as an enabling/adjacent player that supplies technology and curriculum infrastructure to youth media non-profits like CTVN.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ctvnchicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hardcoverchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityTVNetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/CommunityTVNetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Community TV Network