WNET

What WNET does

The WNET Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization founded in 1962 and headquartered at 825 Eighth Avenue in New York City. It operates the nation's largest portfolio of public media properties, including flagship PBS station THIRTEEN (America's most-watched public television channel), WLIW, WLIW-FM (Long Island's only NPR station), ALL ARTS, NJ PBS, and NJ Spotlight News. The organization produces nationally distributed PBS series including Nature (50 years on air, 21 Emmy Awards, 3 Peabody Awards, 800+ honors), American Masters, Great Performances, Amanpour and Company, Secrets of the Dead, and children's educational properties (Cyberchase, Mission US, Oh Noah!, Camp TV, Let's Learn).

Its core technology stack spans traditional broadcast (FCC-licensed television and radio), multi-platform digital streaming (Passport, PBS App, THIRTEEN Explore on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV), FAST channels (PBS Nature on LG Channel, Xumo, Plex, Local Now, The Grio, Freevee), and vMVPD distribution (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV). It runs 5M+ monthly broadcast viewers and 77,000+ monthly WLIW-FM listeners across its properties.

WNET's business model is a hybrid donation-grant-sponsorship structure typical of U.S. public media. Nearly two-thirds of funding comes from individual donors and members (one-time gifts, monthly sustaining, membership tiers). Additional revenue streams include corporate sponsorships/underwriting (segmented across Arts & Culture, Science & Environment, News & Public Affairs, Education), foundation and government grants (notably CPB), major gifts (project support at $25,000+), planned/legacy giving, corporate membership programs, and Passport subscription-style streaming benefits. The organization is governed by an independent 25-Voting-Trustee board, holds PCI DSS and GDPR/CCPA compliance for donation processing, and transitioned leadership in September 2026 when Edward F. O'Keefe succeeded Neal Shapiro as President & CEO.

Name

WNET

Legal name

WNET (The WNET Group)

Website

https://wnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WNET is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public media organization operating flagship PBS station THIRTEEN, WLIW, WLIW-FM, and NJ PBS while producing national PBS series including Nature, American Masters, Great Performances, and Amanpour and Company, serving more than five million viewers monthly across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational/Public-Service Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Children’s & Family Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAD), Local News & Weather Stations (MPABACAJ)

Keywords

• Public broadcasting services
• Television program production
• Educational media content
• PBS station operations
• Member-supported media

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Membership: Primary funding source receiving nearly two thirds of total funding from individual donors, viewers, and members who support public television's unique values through one-time gifts, monthly sustaining donations, and membership programs
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Underwriting: Corporate partners achieve mission-driven goals through impactful integrated sponsorships in Arts & Culture, Science & Environment, News & Public Affairs, and Education across broadcast and streaming platforms
3. Foundation and Government Grants: Support from foundations and government funding including Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) grants and foundation philanthropy
4. Major Gifts and Planned Giving: Major annual giving, project support with gifts of $25,000 or more designated to specific programs, and planned giving/legacy giving vehicles
5. Corporate Membership: Corporate membership programs offering on-air recognition, behind-the-scenes exclusives, premiere screenings, travel opportunities, and executive/employee/client perks
6. Passport Subscription: Extended streaming access benefit for station members providing on-demand library of programming beyond broadcast schedules

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The WNET Group operates public television and radio stations serving the New York tri-state area and produces, acquires, and distributes nationally televised programming across culture, science, history, news, and children's education. Its content reaches audiences via broadcast, cable, satellite, and digital streaming platforms, supported by viewer donations, corporate underwriting, and foundation grants.

Product overview

The WNET Group is a nonprofit public media organization operating as a multi-station, multi-platform media company. The organization encompasses flagship PBS station THIRTEEN, WLIW, WLIW-FM (NPR), ALL ARTS, NJ Spotlight News, and national PBS series including Nature, American Masters, Great Performances, and Amanpour and Company. The portfolio includes children's educational programming (PBS KIDS, Cyberchase, Mission US), news and public affairs content, arts and culture programming, and FAST channels. Content is distributed via broadcast television, streaming platforms (Passport, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV), podcasts, and the THIRTEEN Explore mobile app. The organization reaches more than five million viewers each month and has operated as a leading nonprofit public media producer for more than 60 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THIRTEEN PBS KIDS: 24/7 kids' channel offering PBS KIDS programming
• THIRTEEN WORLD
• WLIW Create
• PBS Nature
• Passport

Products and services

• THIRTEEN (WNET) Public television station licensed to the New York tri-state area carrying PBS national programming, locally produced shows, and WNET-produced national content including arts, science, history, and children's education. Targeted at viewers in the New York metropolitan area with national carriage via PBS.
• WLIW21 Secondary PBS television station serving Long Island and the New York metro area, broadcasting PBS programming with additional locally produced content. Targeted at Long Island and adjacent New York-area viewers.
• WLIW-FM 88.3 Public radio station broadcasting NPR programming and WNET-produced audio content to Long Island and New York-area listeners. Targeted at radio audiences seeking news, talk, and cultural programming.
• Nature Nationally distributed PBS documentary series covering natural history, wildlife, and environmental science, produced by WNET and broadcast across PBS affiliates. Targeted at general adult and family audiences interested in science and nature.
• American Masters Nationally distributed PBS biographical documentary series chronicling the lives and creative contributions of significant Americans in arts, culture, and public life. Targeted at adult viewers interested in arts, culture, and history.
• Great Performances Nationally distributed PBS performing-arts series featuring recorded and live theatrical productions, concerts, and dance performances. Targeted at adult audiences interested in classical and contemporary performing arts.
• Amanpour and Company Daily PBS news and interview program covering international affairs, politics, and culture, co-produced by WNET in partnership with CNN. Targeted at adult viewers seeking in-depth global news and long-form interviews.
• Cyberchase Animated children's educational television series on PBS Kids integrating math, science, and problem-solving for grade-schoolers. Targeted at kids ages 6-10, parents, and educators.
• Mission US Interactive educational game series covering pivotal eras of American history, used in middle and high school classrooms as a supplementary history curriculum tool. Targeted at students, teachers, and schools seeking immersive history education.
• NJ PBS / NJ Spotlight News New Jersey-focused channel and daily news program providing in-depth state and regional journalism alongside PBS national programming. Targeted at New Jersey-area viewers and statewide news audiences.
• ALL ARTS Multi-platform arts and culture channel and streaming service showcasing artists, performers, and cultural institutions across visual art, music, dance, theater, and literature. Targeted at adult viewers and arts enthusiasts across the U.S.
• PBS Passport (WNET participation) Member-benefit streaming subscription providing on-demand access to an extended library of PBS and WNET-produced programs (including Nature, American Masters, Great Performances, Amanpour and Company, etc.). Targeted at PBS member-donors seeking ad-free, on-demand public-media viewing across web and mobile devices.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• JIB (Japan International Broadcasting)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026The WNET Group partnered with JIB (Japan International Broadcasting) to launch NHK WORLD-JAPAN in the New York Designated Market Area (DMA). Long Island Public Media Station WLIW carries NHK WORLD-JAPAN on digital channel 21-3, providing live international news and Japanese lifestyle programming.
• BYkidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BYkids for the Films BYkids series, which uses filmmaking to teach empathy and global citizenry. WNET produces content in partnership with BYkids, with teen filmmakers creating documentaries that premiere on THIRTEEN.
• PBS Digital StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with PBS Digital Studios for Nature's Untold Earth series and Crash Course: Botany series, combining Nature's natural history expertise with PBS Digital Studios' digital distribution capabilities.
• Atlas ObscuraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner with PBS Digital Studios for Nature's Untold Earth series, bringing unique natural world content to digital audiences.
• ComplexlyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Complexly (part of Complex Networks) for Nature's Crash Course: Botany series, leveraging educational content expertise for YouTube distribution.
• Sesame Street in CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partnership bringing Sesame Street in Communities resources to WNET's educational programming platform, supporting early childhood development and family learning.
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment-funded public broadcasting corporation providing critical funding and regulatory framework for public media stations. WNET receives CPB grants and operates under CPB guidelines.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational public broadcasting network that distributes WNET's flagship programming including Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, and Amanpour and Company to stations nationwide.
• Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryminorOthersEd O'Keefe, WNET's incoming President and CEO, previously served as Founding CEO of the $450 million Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota before joining WNET.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop produces Sesame Street, a flagship PBS KIDS program. Functions as a content production partner to WNET in the children's educational media space, with overlapping K-12 audience reach and similar nonprofit/mission-driven model.

Direct peers

• WETA: WETA is the flagship PBS station in Washington, DC and produces PBS NewsHour. Operates a comparable nonprofit public media model with national programming production, broadcast and digital distribution, and donor/membership funding structure similar to WNET.
• WGBH (GBH): GBH is Boston's flagship PBS station and one of the largest public media producers in the US, producing Frontline, NOVA, and American Experience. Operates the same mix of broadcast TV, radio, and digital distribution as WNET, making it the closest comparable in scale, mission, and content production model.
• American Public Television (APT): APT distributes public television programming to stations across the US, including content produced by member stations. Operates in the same public media distribution ecosystem as WNET and serves as both a peer distributor and potential partner for content licensing.
• KCET (Public Media Group of Southern California): KCET is a major-market PBS station in Los Angeles with a similar community-focused nonprofit public media model. Operates comparable broadcast and digital platforms, produces original programming, and competes for the same corporate sponsorship and donor funding pools as WNET.
• KQED: KQED is the PBS and NPR affiliate for the San Francisco Bay Area and a leading public media content producer. Comparable to WNET in operating multiple stations (TV and radio), producing award-winning content, and serving a major metropolitan region with a community-engaged nonprofit model.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Studios: BBC Studios produces and distributes premium documentary, drama, and educational content globally. Comparable to WNET as a high-quality public-affiliated content producer with similar focus on natural history (Planet Earth parallels Nature), arts programming, and journalism.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): PBS is the national network that distributes WNET's programming to stations nationwide. Functions as both a channel partner and broad incumbent, providing distribution infrastructure and brand umbrella for WNET's produced series like Nature and Great Performances.
• NPR (National Public Radio): NPR is the national public radio network that distributes programming to member stations including WNET's WLIW-FM. Comparable as a nonprofit public media organization delivering trusted journalism and cultural content through broadcast and digital channels with similar funding models.

Regional players

• Connecticut Public (CPTV): Connecticut Public is the PBS and NPR affiliate serving Connecticut. Operates a comparable nonprofit public media model with TV, radio, and digital distribution, and serves a regional Northeastern US audience that overlaps with WNET's tri-state footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wneteducation
• Xx.com/wneteducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wnet-new-york-public-media

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 WNET