KUER 90.1
KUER 90.1 is Utah's primary NPR-affiliated public radio station, operated by the University of Utah since 1960. It provides commercial-free news, music, and cultural programming through four audio streams and an extensive translator network serving Utah and the Mountain West.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KUER 90.1 does
KUER 90.1 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public radio station licensed to the University of Utah and broadcasting from the Eccles Broadcast Center at 101 South Wasatch Drive in Salt Lake City. Founded in 1960 and now in its 65th year of operation, KUER functions as Utah's primary NPR affiliate, delivering commercial-free news, public affairs programming, and cultural content to listeners throughout Utah and the broader Mountain West via an extensive FM translator network. The station operates four distinct audio streams: the main KUER 90.1 (NPR and local programming), KUER-2 (BBC World Service), KUER-3 (Classical KUER), and KUER-4 (Avanza, a Spanish-language stream serving Utah's Latino community).
The station's product portfolio includes flagship original programs such as RadioWest (a bi-weekly interview show with companion video series RadioWest Films on YouTube), the State Street politics podcast, TreeNote (environmental content), and Utah News Now (daily news). Content is distributed across FM broadcast, a dedicated iOS/Android mobile app, smart speaker integration, web streaming at kuer.org, and podcast platforms. Underlying technology is conventional FM broadcast infrastructure with digital streaming and RSS-based syndication; no public API or proprietary technology platform is disclosed.
KUER's revenue model is diversified across listener donations (monthly tiers starting at $10/month and one-time gifts), corporate sponsorship (managed via a dedicated site, with news content remaining commercially-free), CPB federal funding, foundation grants, planned giving, and vehicle donations. The General Manager is John Greene, with Ken Dodson serving as Controller and Elaine Clark as News Director. The station maintains strategic partnerships with NPR, BBC, the University of Utah, Mountain West News Bureau, KJZZ (Arizona), and Report for America.
KUER 90.1 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KUER 90.1
- Legal name
- KUER FM90
- Website
- https://kuer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KUER 90.1 is Utah's primary NPR-affiliated public radio station, operated by the University of Utah since 1960. It provides commercial-free news, music, and cultural programming through four audio streams and an extensive translator network serving Utah and the Mountain West.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KUER 90.1 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI), Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC), Local Translator/Repeater & Low-Power Stations (LPTV, Translators, Fill-In) (MPABACAM), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Local Multicultural/Language Broadcasters (Spanish/Asian/Other Local Markets) (MPABACAI)
Keywords
Where KUER 90.1 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
KUER 90.1 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Listener Donations and Memberships: Primary revenue source from listener-supported donations. The station offers monthly gift options ($10/mo, $15/mo, $25/mo) and one-time gifts. Membership programs provide recurring revenue.
- Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship of programming, though the station is commercially-free in its news content. Sponsorships are handled through a dedicated site (sponsorkuer.org).
- Major Giving and Planned Giving: Deferred giving programs including planned giving and major gift campaigns for significant donors.
- Foundation Support: Revenue from foundation grants to support public journalism and programming.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly giving tiers starting at $10 per month |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time donation option |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
KUER 90.1 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KUER 90.1 is a listener-supported public radio station that broadcasts four distinct audio streams over FM and digital channels: KUER 90.1 (NPR and local Utah news), KUER-2 (BBC World Service), KUER-3 (Classical music), and KUER-4 (Spanish-language Avanza). It produces original local journalism, podcasts, and newsletters for Utah and the Mountain West region.
Product overview
KUER 90.1 is Utah's public radio station, operating as a multi-stream media organization with a 501(c)(3) non-profit structure. The core offering is the main FM broadcast on 90.1 delivering NPR and BBC news along with local journalism. This is complemented by four distinct audio streams: KUER-1 (main NPR/local), KUER-2 (BBC World Service), KUER-3 (Classical music), and KUER-4 (Spanish-language 'Avanza'). The station distributes content through its website, a mobile app, smart speaker integration, and RSS feeds, as well as a suite of branded podcasts including RadioWest (flagship interview program), RadioWest Films (video documentaries), State Street (politics), TreeNote (environment), and Utah News Now (daily news). Email newsletters extend audience engagement beyond audio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RadioWest: KUER's premiere bi-weekly news interview program exploring issues, ideas, and stories shaping Utah and the wider world.
- State Street
- TreeNote
- Utah News Now
Products and services
- KUER 90.1 Main Radio Broadcast Primary FM radio broadcast on 90.1 providing NPR national programming, local Utah news, and public affairs content to listeners throughout Utah via an extensive translator network.
- KUER-2: BBC World Service Secondary audio stream on 90.1 FM delivering BBC World Service international news and programming to Utah listeners.
- KUER-3: Classical KUER Classical music programming stream providing orchestral, chamber, and other classical music selections.
- KUER-4: Avanza Spanish-language news and cultural programming stream serving Utah's Latino community.
- RadioWest Podcast Bi-weekly news interview program exploring issues, ideas, and stories shaping Utah and the wider world through conversations with newsmakers, scholars, writers, artists, and community voices.
- State Street Podcast Politics podcast from KUER covering Utah political news and policy.
- Utah News Now Podcast Daily news podcast delivering Utah headlines and local coverage.
- TreeNote Podcast Podcast focusing on environmental and nature-related topics.
- KUER Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling listeners to stream live radio, access podcasts, and receive news updates on-the-go.
- Listener Membership Program Monthly recurring membership donation program with tiers including $10/mo, $15/mo, $25/mo, and custom amounts, providing the primary listener-supported funding for the station.
- Email Newsletters Email newsletter products including KUER Morning Brief (daily/weekly Utah news), RadioWest newsletter, and State Street newsletter delivering curated news to subscriber inboxes.
Companies that use KUER 90.1
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
KUER 90.1 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
KUER 90.1 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreKUER is Utah's NPR affiliate, carrying national NPR programming and contributing to NPR's news gathering network.
- BBC World ServicecoreKUER-2 broadcasts BBC World Service programming, providing international news coverage to Utah listeners.
- University of UtahcoreKUER is operated by the University of Utah, providing educational broadcasting and serving as a training ground for journalism students.
- Mountain West News BureauregionalCollaborative regional journalism partnership covering the Mountain West region.
- KJZZminorArizona public radio station collaborating on Colorado River water rights coverage.
- Report for AmericaregionalPublic service program partnering with local newsrooms to bring reporters to under-covered areas. Supports KUER's Southwest Utah Bureau reporter Lexi Peery.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KUER 90.1 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WNYC (New York Public Radio): Largest U.S. public radio operator (WNYC, WQXR, NJPR) with NPR/news and classical streams plus flagship podcasts — directly comparable multi-stream public radio business model but at much larger scale.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Pacific Northwest public radio and TV network with translator coverage across Oregon — comparable multi-stream public radio/TV operator serving a Mountain-West-adjacent state with similar community-funded model.
Direct peers
- WBEZ Chicago: Chicago Public Media's NPR news station operating multiple streams and a leading podcast portfolio (Wait Wait..., Curious City) — directly comparable in multi-stream public radio and podcast-led growth strategy.
- KEXP 90.3: Listener-supported public radio station in Seattle with strong digital streaming, podcast, and community engagement strategies — directly comparable in audience-supported public radio model and digital-first distribution.
- KUT 90.5 (KUT News / KUTX): University of Texas-affiliated public radio station operating NPR/news (KUT) and music (KUTX) streams from Austin — directly comparable multi-stream university-licensed public radio operator in a Mountain-West-adjacent state.
- KCRW 89.9: Santa Monica College-licensed public radio station with multiple streams, strong podcast portfolio, and listener-supported revenue — directly comparable university/community college-licensed NPR member station with multi-stream digital strategy.
Others
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): Federal funding entity for U.S. public radio and TV; not a peer broadcaster but a core upstream funder providing grants to KUER and structurally influential across the entire U.S. public radio ecosystem.
Regional players
- Capital Public Radio (KXJZ): Sacramento State University-licensed NPR/Capital Public Radio multi-stream public radio operator — comparable in multi-stream university-licensed NPR affiliate format in a state-capital market.
- Boise State Public Radio: Boise State University-licensed NPR affiliate serving Idaho — closely comparable university-licensed public radio model in an adjacent Mountain West market with similar geographic-translator coverage approach.
- KUNC 91.5: Community-licensed NPR member station serving northern Colorado with translator network — comparable regional NPR public radio with similar listener-supported model and statewide translator distribution approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KUER 90.1 social profiles
Digital presenceKUER 90.1 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KUER 90.1 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
KUER 90.1 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
KUER 90.1 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KUER 90.1 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 KUER 90.1
What does KUER 90.1 do?
KUER 90.1 is a listener-supported public radio station that broadcasts four distinct audio streams over FM and digital channels: KUER 90.1 (NPR and local Utah news), KUER-2 (BBC World Service), KUER-3 (Classical music), and KUER-4 (Spanish-language Avanza). It produces original local journalism, podcasts, and newsletters for Utah and the Mountain West region.
Is KUER 90.1 a public or private company?
KUER 90.1 is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was KUER 90.1 founded?
KUER 90.1 was founded in 1960. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KUER 90.1 based?
KUER 90.1 is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does KUER 90.1 make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship, major Giving and Planned Giving and foundation Support.
Who are KUER 90.1's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WNYC (New York Public Radio) and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). Direct peers are WBEZ Chicago, KEXP 90.3, KUT 90.5 (KUT News / KUTX) and KCRW 89.9. Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is listed as an others. Regional players are Capital Public Radio (KXJZ), Boise State Public Radio and KUNC 91.5.
Does KUER 90.1 have an API?
No public API is recorded for KUER 90.1.
What industry is KUER 90.1 in?
KUER 90.1's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAF, Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates), with a secondary code of MPABAIAI, News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations. Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.