Sun Prairie Media Center

What Sun Prairie Media Center does

Sun Prairie Media Center (SPMC) is a non-profit community media center founded in 1978 and based at 1350 Linnerud Dr in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where it has been co-located within the Sun Prairie Public Library complex since 2000. The organization operates a Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access cable franchise originally established in 1976, producing and distributing community programming across three core channels: KSUN (a PEG cable channel split into KSUN Now for live sports, city meetings, and school board coverage, and KSUN Life launched September 1, 2023 for non-live original programming), KIDS-4 (a children's cable access channel paired with an after-school media production program for students in grades 4–8, enrolling 50–70 children annually), and 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio (WLSP-LP), a low-power community radio station added in 2015.

The technology platform comprises two state-of-the-art studios, two control rooms, digital editing rooms, and office space, with content distributed via cable (Spectrum/Charter and TDS), streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV), a dedicated iOS/Android mobile app, online streaming through sunprairiemediacenter.com and TuneIn, and FM radio. Membership-based access to studios, equipment, and editing workstations is available for community producers who complete required training.

SPMC is affiliated with the City of Sun Prairie but receives no taxpayer funding. Revenue is generated through five streams: (1) cable subscriber fees via the PEG franchise, (2) recurring membership fees (transitioned from volunteer-based operations effective January 1, 2018), (3) advertising and sponsorships (including broadcast sponsorships and on-air underwriting from Bank of Sun Prairie), (4) donations via the Friends of SPMC advocacy group, and (5) hardware sales of graduation USB/DVD copies at $15 per program dub plus KIDS-4 program fees of $200 (members) to $275 (non-members). Pricing for ancillary services includes $15 per program dub. The organization serves four primary segments: Sun Prairie community residents, KIDS-4 youth participants (ages 9–14), local sports fans, and the City of Sun Prairie government for civic meeting coverage, with the Sun Prairie Area School District as a key institutional partner for graduation and sports content.

Name

Sun Prairie Media Center

Legal name

Sun Prairie Media Center

Website

https://sunprairiemediacenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sun Prairie Media Center is a non-profit community media center in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, founded in 1978, operating KSUN cable access television, KIDS-4 children's programming, and 103.5 FM community radio, funded by cable subscriber fees, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Media Services

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH), Media Center & Audiovisual Lending Operations (Equipment Checkout, Production Support) (EDAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Community media services
• Public access television
• Community radio broadcasting
• Youth media education
• PEG access channels

Headquarters

HQ city

Sun Prairie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cable Subscriber Fees: Funded by a portion of the cable bill paid by cable subscribers in Sun Prairie. Though affiliated with the City of Sun Prairie, does not receive taxpayer money.
2. Membership Fees: Transitioned from volunteer-based to membership-based organization in 2018. Members receive access to studios, equipment, and editing workstations, ability to submit programming, professional assistance, and discounted workshop rates.
3. Program Sales: Sales of graduation ceremony USB/DVD copies. Also sells dubs of programs for $15.00 per copy.
4. Sponsorships: Business sponsorship opportunities for broadcasts and programming. Sponsors recognized during broadcasts and in on-demand content.
5. Donations: Accepts donations from community members and organizations. Supported by Friends of Sun Prairie Media Center group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sun Prairie Media Center operates a community media center in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, producing and distributing local programming across cable television (KSUN Now and KSUN Life), community radio (103.5 FM The Sun), and a children's media channel (KIDS-4) tied to an after-school production training program for grades 4-8. The organization provides community members with studio and equipment access via membership, broadcasts live coverage of local government, schools, and sports, and offers youth media workshops. Content is delivered via cable providers (Spectrum, TDS), streaming platforms (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV), a free mobile app, online streaming, and FM radio broadcast.

Product overview

Sun Prairie Media Center is a community media center operating a multi-platform media network. The core offerings include three main channels/products: KSUN (cable access TV with two sub-channels - KSUN Now for live sports/government meetings and KSUN Life for original programming), KIDS-4 (a children's programming channel and after-school media production program for grades 4-8), and 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio. Supporting services include a free mobile app for iOS/Android enabling live streaming and on-demand content, summer workshops for youth, studio/equipment access for members, and USB/DVD sales of graduation ceremonies. The organization serves Sun Prairie, Wisconsin residents through cable (Spectrum, TDS), streaming platforms (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV), online streaming, and a dedicated mobile application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KSUN: Public, education, and government access cable channel (rebranded as KSUN Now for live programming).
• KIDS-4
• 103.5 FM The Sun
• KSUN Now
• KSUN Life

Products and services

• KSUN (KSUN Now and KSUN Life) Public, education, and government (PEG) access cable channel serving Sun Prairie. KSUN Now broadcasts live programming including city government meetings (Common Council, Parks and Recreation, Sustainability), school board meetings, and live high school sports (football, basketball, baseball, softball). KSUN Life features non-live original programming created by community producers. Distributed via Spectrum/Charter (ch. 983), TDS TV (channels 13/983/1013 for Now; 985/1985 for Life), streaming devices, mobile app, and online.
• KIDS-4 Channel and After-School Program A 24-hour public access cable channel and after-school media production program for students in 4th through 8th grade (ages 9-14). Children work in crews of 5-8 once per week, learning cameras, lighting, sound, directing, producing, writing, editing, and animation to create their own television programs. Programming is created by kids, for kids. Typically serves 50-70 children per year. Distributed on Spectrum (ch. 984), TDS TV (channels 14/1014), streaming devices, and kids4.tv.
• 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio Community radio station (WLSP-LP) providing local audio programming including sports broadcasts (high school football, basketball, baseball, softball), news, community event coverage, and original shows such as Authentic Business Adventures, Cap City Sports, MOMents of Strength, and Spine Chilling Cinema. Available on 103.5 FM in Sun Prairie, online at sunprairiemediacenter.com, via TuneIn, and through the SPMC mobile app.
• Membership Program Membership-based access to SPMC facilities, equipment, and airwaves. Members receive access to studios, equipment, and editing workstations; ability to submit programming for broadcast on KSUN, 103.5 FM, and online; professional assistance from SPMC staff; and discounted rates for KIDS-4 program fees and workshops.
• Studio and Equipment Access Access to two state-of-the-art production studios, two control rooms, digital editing rooms, and professional media production equipment for program producers who complete required training. Facility has been located in the Sun Prairie Public Library complex since 2000.
• KIDS-4 Summer Workshops Summer workshop programs for children ages 9-14 covering video production, movie making, podcast creation, journalism, and social media skills. Held at the Media Center located within the Sun Prairie Public Library.
• Graduation Ceremony USB/DVD Sales Sale of USB and DVD copies of Sun Prairie High School (SPHS East, SPHS West) and Prairie Phoenix Academy graduation ceremonies. Graduation programs available on USB starting 2026. Priced as a one-time product purchase; marketed as keepsake gifts for graduates and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 45 years of continuous community media service since 1978
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sun Prairie Area School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2025Partnership for live broadcast of graduation ceremonies. SPMC broadcasts SPHS East, SPHS West, and Prairie Phoenix Academy graduations. Also partners for school sports coverage and educational programming.
• Steve Donovan Film and VideocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2023Collaborated with Steve Donovan Film and Video, a video production company based in New Glarus, to produce the 'Sun Prairie Stronger' documentary marking the fifth anniversary of the 2018 gas explosion. Steve Donovan assisted in editing footage and conducting interviews.
• Sun Prairie Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPMC is located within the Sun Prairie Public Library complex since 2000. Both organizations collaborate on creative programming and were jointly honored with the Giddy Up Partner Award by the South Central Library System Foundation.
• Bank of Sun PrairieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriter for 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio station
• Culver's of Sun PrairieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted KIDS-4 Share Night events where a portion of sales are donated to the Parents of KIDS-4 fundraising group
• Sun Prairie Optimist ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $250 for KIDS-4 program t-shirts for all enrolled students
• Titley and Associates (Allstate)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $250 matching donation for KIDS-4 program t-shirts
• Friends of Sun Prairie Media CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocacy group that provides financial support for SPMC and its entities, and promotes SPMC. Picked up cost for Media Fest entry fees for producers.
• Leadership Sun PrairieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts annual Communications and Media Day for Leadership Sun Prairie class, providing hands-on media training experience

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Berkeley Community Media: Berkeley, CA nonprofit community media center operating PEG channels and providing media production training to residents. Direct functional comparable in PEG access operations.
• Somerville Media Center: Somerville, MA community media center with PEG access channels, studio facilities, and youth media programming. Closely mirrors SPMC's small-city community media mission.
• Portland Community Media (PCM): Portland, OR community media center providing PEG access channels and media production training. Direct peer in studio-access and member-driven programming model.
• Cambridge Community Television: Cambridge, MA PEG access center offering community media training, studio access, and cable channels with youth programming. Operates a similar member-driven, multi-platform model.
• Burlington Community Television (BCTV): Burlington, VT community media center providing cable access channels, training, and equipment access to residents. Comparable PEG access operations in a similar-sized community.
• Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN): NYC-based PEG access community media center providing studio access, training, and channels for community producers. Closest comparable in mission and operating model to SPMC, scaled to a major metro.
• Nashville Community Education Television (NCET): Nashville, TN community education television offering PEG access and media education. Comparable in educational programming focus and PEG channel operation.

Others

• Alliance for Community Media: National trade association representing PEG access centers including SPMC (recognized SPMC with Media Fest awards). Relevant as the industry ecosystem and advocacy body for community media centers.

Broad incumbents

• Wisconsin Public Television (PBS Wisconsin): Statewide PBS affiliate providing educational and public media programming. Comparable as a public/educational broadcaster in Wisconsin, but operates at much larger scale and as a state network.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin statewide public radio network. Comparable as community/public radio operator in the same state as SPMC's 103.5 FM The Sun, though operating at network rather than hyper-local scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/spmediacenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/spmediacenter
• Xx.com/spmediacenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sun-prairie-media-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sun Prairie Media Center