WQLN PBS NPR
WQLN PBS NPR is a nonprofit public broadcasting station in Erie, Pennsylvania, operating PBS television (TV 54.1) and NPR radio (91.3 FM) for Northwest Pennsylvania audiences, funded by memberships, corporate sponsorships, and community giving events while delivering educational outreach through its STREAM Machine program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersErie, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WQLN PBS NPR does
WQLN PBS NPR is a nonprofit public broadcasting station legally organized as Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania Inc., headquartered at 8425 Peach Street, Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1967, the station operates as a regional affiliate of both the PBS television network (broadcasting on TV 54.1) and the NPR radio network (broadcasting on WQLN NPR 91.3 FM), serving the Northwest Pennsylvania region with free over-the-air programming, digital streaming via the WQLN App and website, and on-demand content through the PBS Passport member benefit.
The station's core offerings span three operational areas: broadcast media operations (television and radio programming, live streaming, local original productions such as Chronicles, Erie Eats, Scholastic Scrimmage, and Classics with Brian Hannah), education services (the STREAM Machine mobile outreach program delivering STREAM curriculum and PBS KIDS kits to children aged 4–8, plus the annual Writers Contest and PBS KIDS Live Stream), and community engagement (Sounds Around Town concerts, Erie Craft Beer Fest, Holiday Craft Show, Golf Scramble, and regional giving event participation). Technology infrastructure consists of FCC-licensed broadcast spectrum, digital streaming platforms, and a website hosted on Brightspot CMS with public media SSO authentication; WQLN is not a technology builder but a content distributor and community educator.
WQLN's business model is donor-funded and non-commercial. Revenue is generated through individual memberships and donations (often paired with PBS Passport access), corporate sponsorships (Erie Insurance, Wabtec, UPMC Health Plan and other regional underwriters), community giving events including Erie Gives and Crawford Gives, planned giving and Charitable IRA distributions, an EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program, and vehicle donations. The organization is governed independently with no parent company or institutional investment ownership, and operates with approximately 11 staff across Media Operations, Development, and Education departments.
WQLN PBS NPR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WQLN PBS NPR
- Legal name
- Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania Inc.
- Website
- https://wqln.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WQLN PBS NPR is a nonprofit public broadcasting station in Erie, Pennsylvania, operating PBS television (TV 54.1) and NPR radio (91.3 FM) for Northwest Pennsylvania audiences, funded by memberships, corporate sponsorships, and community giving events while delivering educational outreach through its STREAM Machine program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WQLN PBS NPR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB)
Keywords
Where WQLN PBS NPR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WQLN PBS NPR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and Individual Donations: Voluntary contributions from viewers and listeners who become members of WQLN Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania. Memberships include benefits such as PBS Passport access for extended on-demand content.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Support from local and regional businesses including Erie Insurance, Wabtec, UPMC Health Plan, and others. Includes Corporate Support program for businesses seeking association with public media.
- Community Giving Events: Participation in regional giving events including Erie Gives and Crawford Gives, which collectively raised over $9.7 million in 2024. The station also hosts its own online auction and fundraising events.
- Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Charitable IRA distributions, planned giving programs, and EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program offerings for sustained support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
WQLN PBS NPR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WQLN PBS NPR provides free public television and radio programming to Northwest Pennsylvania, operating as a PBS and NPR affiliate. Its core offerings include over-the-air TV (channel 54.1) and FM radio (91.3), digital streaming of live and on-demand content via website and mobile app, the PBS Passport member benefit, and the STREAM Machine mobile educational outreach program serving children ages 4-8 in Erie County.
Product overview
WQLN PBS NPR operates as a public broadcasting station serving Northwest Pennsylvania, offering a multi-platform media portfolio centered on educational content. The core offerings include broadcast television (WQLN PBS channel 54.1) and radio (NPR 91.3 FM), complemented by digital streaming services through the WQLN App and live TV streaming. The station's signature educational initiative is the STREAM Machine program, a mobile learning laboratory that delivers hands-on STREAM curriculum to young children through neighborhood visits and take-home kits. Premium member benefit is provided through WQLN PBS Passport, an on-demand video library extending access to public television programming. The station also features extensive radio programming including NPR national shows and local productions like Classics with Brian Hannah, plus children's programming via PBS KIDS Live Stream and the annual Writers Contest.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WQLN PBS Passport: Member benefit providing extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming
- STREAM Machine
- Chronicles
- Classics with Brian Hannah
- Sounds Around Town
- Scholastic Scrimmage
Products and services
- WQLN PBS Passport
Companies that use WQLN PBS NPR
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WQLN PBS NPR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
WQLN PBS NPR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Crawford Heritage Community FoundationminorOrganizes Crawford Gives giving event in which WQLN participates for fundraising. Features prorated match pool to amplify donations.
- Erie Community FoundationcoreOrganizes Erie Gives annual giving event where WQLN participates to receive donations. Event raised over $9.7 million for regional nonprofits in 2024. 100% of donations go directly to nonprofits with all fees covered.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreNational public television network providing programming content, distribution infrastructure, and branding as an affiliated WQLN PBS station. WQLN broadcasts PBS national programming including documentaries, dramas, children's shows, and news content.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreNational public radio network providing radio programming including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, and other NPR shows broadcast on WQLN NPR 91.3 FM.
- Erie County Public Library SystemcoreSTREAM Machine educational outreach program partners with multiple library branches including Edinboro, Iroquois, Lincoln, Millcreek, Union City, Blasco Memorial, Corry, Albion, and Meadville locations to deliver hands-on educational activities for children ages 4-8.
- Erie Housing AuthorityminorCommunity partnership bringing STREAM Machine educational programming and kits to children at Bird Drive, East Brook, and Neighborhood Art House locations.
- Erie InsuranceminorCorporate sponsor of WQLN supporting public media operations.
- WabtecminorCorporate sponsor of WQLN supporting public media operations.
- UPMC Health PlanminorCorporate sponsor of WQLN's PBS KIDS educational programming for children.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WQLN PBS NPR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): PBS is the national public television network that supplies WQLN with most of its programming. As a broader incumbent in the public broadcasting space, PBS provides content infrastructure and distribution that WQLN relies on, while operating at significantly larger scale.
- NPR (National Public Radio): NPR is the national public radio network providing programming like Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air to WQLN. As a broader incumbent, NPR operates at scale and increasingly competes for digital audio audience share against WQLN's FM broadcast.
Direct peers
- WETA: WETA is the flagship PBS station serving the Washington, D.C. metro area and operates a similar dual PBS television and classical radio model. It is directly comparable in operating structure and public broadcasting mission.
- WQED Pittsburgh: WQED is the PBS member station serving the Pittsburgh market in western Pennsylvania. It operates as a direct regional peer to WQLN, sharing the same PBS affiliation model, nonprofit funding structure, and Pennsylvania geography.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): OPB operates PBS and NPR affiliates serving Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. As a multi-platform regional public broadcaster with educational programming, it is directly comparable to WQLN's broadcasting and outreach model.
- KQED: KQED is the PBS and NPR member station serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It operates the same dual-license public broadcasting model as WQLN with comparable educational outreach and local news programming.
- WVIA Public Media: WVIA operates PBS and NPR affiliates serving Northeastern Pennsylvania. As a fellow Pennsylvania-based dual PBS/NPR member station with educational programming emphasis, it is directly comparable to WQLN in scale and mission.
- WGBH: WGBH is the Boston-area PBS station and a major national content producer for PBS. It shares WQLN's nonprofit public broadcasting structure with extensive educational programming and local content production.
- Iowa PBS: Iowa PBS is the statewide public television network serving Iowa. It shares WQLN's PBS affiliation, educational mission, and rural/small-market community broadcasting focus, making it a strong structural peer.
- WITF: WITF is the public media station serving Central Pennsylvania, operating both PBS television and NPR radio affiliates. It mirrors WQLN's dual-format public broadcasting model with comparable educational outreach and community programming focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WQLN PBS NPR social profiles
Digital presenceWQLN PBS NPR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
WQLN PBS NPR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WQLN PBS NPR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
WQLN PBS NPR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WQLN PBS NPR 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 WQLN PBS NPR
What does WQLN PBS NPR do?
WQLN PBS NPR provides free public television and radio programming to Northwest Pennsylvania, operating as a PBS and NPR affiliate. Its core offerings include over-the-air TV (channel 54.1) and FM radio (91.3), digital streaming of live and on-demand content via website and mobile app, the PBS Passport member benefit, and the STREAM Machine mobile educational outreach program serving children ages 4-8 in Erie County.
Is WQLN PBS NPR a public or private company?
WQLN PBS NPR is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WQLN PBS NPR founded?
WQLN PBS NPR was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WQLN PBS NPR based?
WQLN PBS NPR is headquartered in Erie, United States, in the North America region.
How does WQLN PBS NPR make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership and Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, community Giving Events and planned Giving and Estate Donations.
Who are WQLN PBS NPR's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and NPR (National Public Radio). Direct peers are WETA, WQED Pittsburgh, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), KQED, WVIA Public Media, WGBH, Iowa PBS and WITF.
Does WQLN PBS NPR have an API?
No public API is recorded for WQLN PBS NPR.
What industry is WQLN PBS NPR in?
WQLN PBS NPR'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 MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.