Lakeland PBS
Lakeland PBS is a nonprofit PBS affiliate operating two full-power digital TV stations (KAWE/KAWB) across northern and central Minnesota, delivering six broadcast channels, local news, and educational programming to roughly 383,500 viewers via broadcast, streaming, and PBS Passport.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersBemidji, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Lakeland PBS does
Lakeland PBS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public broadcasting organization founded in 1980 and headquartered at 108 Grant Ave NE in Bemidji, Minnesota, with a satellite office and studio in Brainerd. It operates two full-power digital television broadcast stations — KAWE (Bemidji) serving northern Minnesota and KAWB (Brainerd) serving central Minnesota — delivering six channels (Lakeland Prime, Lakeland PBS Kids, Lakeland MN Channel, Lakeland Plus, Create, and FNX — First Nations Experience) over an estimated 7,500 square miles reaching 383,500+ viewers. The organization is a PBS affiliate producing local news (Lakeland News), cultural programming (Lakeland Currents, Up North Arts, Backroads), and Indigenous-focused content (Ojibwemotaadidaa!, Ojibwe Word of the Day) in collaboration with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Red Lake Nation, alongside the educational Lakeland Learns initiative integrated with PBS LearningMedia.
The underlying technology stack is conventional over-the-air broadcast infrastructure augmented with digital streaming distribution: content is available via the PBS App, YouTube, and connected-TV platforms (FireTV, Roku, AppleTV, AndroidTV), with no disclosed proprietary technology components. The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue mix combining individual member pledges and recurring PBS Passport subscriptions, FCC-compliant business underwriting from regional sponsors (packages starting at $550), planned-giving and vehicle donation programs, a Collette-partnered Travel Club, and Minnesota Legacy Amendment state appropriations channeled through the Minnesota Public Television Association. Go-to-market is community-led: the station cultivates local membership through on-air pledge drives, community events (Paint Nights, Travel Club trips, PBS Books Readers Club), and direct outreach to a ~30-person staff of management, production, development, operations, and news personnel under CEO Jeff Hanks.
Lakeland PBS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lakeland PBS
- Legal name
- Lakeland PBS
- Website
- https://lptv.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lakeland PBS is a nonprofit PBS affiliate operating two full-power digital TV stations (KAWE/KAWB) across northern and central Minnesota, delivering six broadcast channels, local news, and educational programming to roughly 383,500 viewers via broadcast, streaming, and PBS Passport.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lakeland PBS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local/Regional News Channels (MPABAIAD)
Keywords
Where Lakeland PBS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bemidji
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Lakeland PBS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership/Pledges: Viewers become station members through financial pledges and donations. Members receive PBS Passport streaming benefits.
- Business Sponsorships/Underwriting: Local businesses sponsor programming with non-promotional underwriting messages that comply with FCC rules for non-commercial media. Packages start at $550 and include basic production.
- PBS Passport Subscription: Streaming service for station members providing access to additional PBS shows beyond broadcast programming.
- Vehicle and Planned Giving Donations: Accepts vehicle donations and offers planned giving/endowment options for major donors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Business Sponsorship packages starting at $550 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lakeland PBS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lakeland PBS is a nonprofit PBS affiliate public broadcasting station that produces, acquires, and airs educational, news, and cultural programming across six broadcast channels (Lakeland Prime, PBS Kids, MN Channel, Plus, Create, and FNX First Nations Experience) reaching 383,500+ people across 7,500 square miles in northern and central Minnesota. The station also delivers on-demand streaming via PBS Passport and free curriculum-aligned educational resources for PreK-12 educators.
Product overview
Lakeland PBS is a public broadcasting station serving northern and central Minnesota with six broadcast channels: Lakeland Prime (primary channel with national PBS programming and local news), Lakeland PBS Kids (children's educational content), Lakeland MN Channel (regional Minnesota programming), Lakeland Plus (supplementary programming), Create (lifestyle and how-to content), and FNX - First Nations Experience (Indigenous programming). The station's core products include the award-winning Lakeland News division and local production series such as Lakeland Currents, alongside streaming access through Lakeland PBS Passport. Supporting offerings include Lakeland Learns (free educational resources for PreK-12 educators incorporating PBS LearningMedia), Lakeland Travel Club (partnered with Collette), and culturally-focused programming like Ojibwemotaadidaa! and Ojibwe Word of the Day.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PBS Passport: A membership benefit that allows viewers to stream additional PBS shows online including Masterpiece, NOVA, Nature, and many more
Products and services
- Lakeland PBS Passport
- Lakeland Prime
- Lakeland PBS Kids
- Lakeland MN Channel (Minnesota Channel)
- Lakeland Plus
- Create Channel
- FNX - First Nations Experience
- Lakeland News
- Lakeland Learns
- PBS LearningMedia
- Lakeland Travel Club
- Lakeland Currents
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches 383,500+ people across 7,500 square miles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lakeland PBS
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lakeland PBS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lakeland PBS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreLakeland PBS is a PBS affiliate station since 1980, producing, acquiring, and airing PBS programs. Provides access to national programming including Masterpiece, NOVA, Nature, and PBS NewsHour.
- Minnesota Public Television Association (MPTA)coreLakeland PBS is one of six public television stations in the MPTA. Collaborative efforts include Legacy Amendment funding initiatives and statewide programming.
- Leech Lake Band of OjibwecorePartner in Native American programming and community initiatives. Leech Lake Opioid Treatment Program is a business sponsor. FNX (First Nations Experience) channel features indigenous content.
- Red Lake NationminorRed Lake Transit is a business partner. Station supports Native American storytelling and indigenous programming through FNX channel.
- ColletteminorLakeland Travel Club partners with Collette (107 years of experience) to offer curated travel experiences to viewers.
- KAXEminorRegional public radio station in Grand Rapids and Bemidji. Listed as business sponsor supporting Lakeland PBS programming.
- Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC)minorPartnership to bring 'Careers Beyond The Farm' video shorts to inspire students. Ann Marie Ward serves as Executive Director of MAITC Foundation.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lakeland PBS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WNEO/WEAO (Western Reserve PBS): Northeast Ohio PBS affiliate operating multiple broadcast channels and producing local educational content. Closely comparable to Lakeland PBS in scale and operational footprint — a regional PBS member station with multiple channels and educational mission.
- KVIE: Sacramento-based PBS affiliate operating multiple channels and producing local programming. Most directly comparable as a similarly sized PBS member station operating broadcast plus digital channels and serving a defined regional market.
Broad incumbents
- KQED: Major-market PBS affiliate serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable as a large PBS member station operating multiple channels, news production, and educational content distribution at a much greater scale.
- GBH (WGBH): Boston-based PBS affiliate and one of PBS's largest content producers (Frontline, NOVA, American Experience). Comparable as a public broadcasting organization combining local broadcast with national production, though operating at substantially larger scale.
- WETA: Washington D.C.-area PBS affiliate and a major producer of national PBS content (including PBS NewsHour). Comparable as a PBS station producing both local programming and contributing national content, though at much larger scale.
Regional players
- Iowa PBS: Iowa's statewide PBS affiliate network operating multiple channels across the state. Comparable as a rural-focused PBS member station with educational programming and government/state funding dependencies similar to Lakeland PBS.
- Wisconsin Public Television: Wisconsin's statewide public television network operating multiple broadcast channels and producing local educational and cultural content. Comparable as a multi-channel rural/statewide PBS affiliate with similar educational mission and reliance on public funding streams.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Pacific Northwest public broadcaster operating television, radio, and digital platforms. Comparable as a multi-platform public media organization with strong local news, educational content, and rural/semi-rural coverage.
- South Dakota Public Broadcasting: Statewide public broadcasting network serving South Dakota with rural broadcast footprint. Comparable as a small-market, multi-channel PBS affiliate serving a low-density rural population with educational programming.
- Twin Cities PBS (TPT): Minnesota's flagship PBS affiliate serving the Twin Cities metro. Directly comparable as a PBS member station in the same state, sharing Legacy Amendment funding and statewide programming collaborations through MPTA, though operating at significantly larger scale and a different metro market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lakeland PBS social profiles
Digital presenceLakeland PBS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lakeland PBS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Lakeland PBS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lakeland PBS 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 Lakeland PBS
What does Lakeland PBS do?
Lakeland PBS is a nonprofit PBS affiliate public broadcasting station that produces, acquires, and airs educational, news, and cultural programming across six broadcast channels (Lakeland Prime, PBS Kids, MN Channel, Plus, Create, and FNX First Nations Experience) reaching 383,500+ people across 7,500 square miles in northern and central Minnesota. The station also delivers on-demand streaming via PBS Passport and free curriculum-aligned educational resources for PreK-12 educators.
Is Lakeland PBS a public or private company?
Lakeland PBS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lakeland PBS founded?
Lakeland PBS was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lakeland PBS based?
Lakeland PBS is headquartered in Bemidji, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lakeland PBS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership/Pledges are the primary driver. The others are business Sponsorships/Underwriting, PBS Passport Subscription and vehicle and Planned Giving Donations.
Who are Lakeland PBS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WNEO/WEAO (Western Reserve PBS) and KVIE. Broad incumbents are KQED, GBH (WGBH) and WETA. Regional players are Iowa PBS, Wisconsin Public Television, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), South Dakota Public Broadcasting and Twin Cities PBS (TPT).
Does Lakeland PBS have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lakeland PBS.
What industry is Lakeland PBS in?
Lakeland PBS's product category is Public Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAG, Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts), with a secondary code of MPABAIAD, Local/Regional News Channels. Its NAICS code is 5162 and its SIC code is 4833.