WCBE 90.5 FM
WCBE 90.5 FM is a non-commercial public radio station in Columbus, Ohio, operated by Columbus City Schools. It broadcasts on 90.5 FM (Columbus) and 106.3 FM (Newark), offering local news, music, NPR programming, original podcasts, and live event sessions to Central Ohio listeners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WCBE 90.5 FM does
WCBE 90.5 FM is a non-commercial public radio station licensed to Columbus, Ohio, operating as a broadcast service of Columbus City Schools. The station transmits on 90.5 FM in Columbus and 106.3 FM in Newark, providing music programming, local news, NPR national and international news content, and community-focused programming to the Central Ohio region. Core products include The Morning Mix weekday music show hosted by Mike Foley, Live From Studio A live performance sessions, WCBE local news, and a portfolio of original podcasts under the WCBE Podcast Experience (Protecting What Matters, Depicting the Invisible, The Art of Attention, City League Sports, and Grow Global). Distribution extends across broadcast radio, online streaming via wcbe.org, podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify), YouTube, and live events at venues such as Kemba Live.
The station generates revenue through multiple streams: recurring listener donations solicited via its website; corporate underwriting and program sponsorship sold by part-time sales representatives at commission rates of 30% for new clients and 20% for renewals; Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) federal grants and compliance-linked funding; one-time vehicle donations and merchandise sales. The primary customer segment is the Central Ohio general public listener, with secondary engagement from Columbus City Schools students who participate in WCBE Student Media for hands-on broadcasting training, and regional businesses that sponsor programming.
The underlying technology stack consists of traditional broadcast radio infrastructure supplemented by digital streaming, podcast production, and video content (WCBE-TV). Content partnerships include NPR, American Public Media, PRX, BBC World Service, and various local organizations including the Ohio Department of Commerce, National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Columbus Metropolitan Club, and Kemba Live. The station has been operational since at least 1993 and operates with 11-50 employees.
WCBE 90.5 FM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WCBE 90.5 FM
- Legal name
- WCBE 90.5 FM
- Website
- https://wcbe.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WCBE 90.5 FM is a non-commercial public radio station in Columbus, Ohio, operated by Columbus City Schools. It broadcasts on 90.5 FM (Columbus) and 106.3 FM (Newark), offering local news, music, NPR programming, original podcasts, and live event sessions to Central Ohio listeners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WCBE 90.5 FM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF), News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD)
Keywords
Where WCBE 90.5 FM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WCBE 90.5 FM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Listener Donations: WCBE receives donations from listeners through its website, with a policy of never selling, renting, or sharing its donor list to any other organization.
- Business Underwriting / Program Sponsorship: WCBE generates revenue through corporate sponsorship of music programming, student-produced content, and digital assets. The station employs part-time sales representatives to secure business underwriting from regional businesses and organizations at commission rates of 30% for new clients and 20% for renewals.
- Public Broadcasting Funding: WCBE receives funding as a broadcast service of Columbus City Schools and through Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) compliance and grants.
- Vehicle and Special Item Donations: The station accepts vehicle donations and operates a shop for merchandise and additional support.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
WCBE 90.5 FM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WCBE 90.5 FM is a non-commercial public radio station broadcasting on 90.5 FM in Columbus and 106.3 FM in Newark, Ohio. It delivers local and NPR news, music programming (including The Morning Mix and Live From Studio A performances), original podcasts (the WCBE Podcast Experience), and student-produced media as a broadcast service of Columbus City Schools.
Product overview
WCBE 90.5 FM is a public radio station serving Columbus, Ohio, operated by Columbus City Schools. The station offers a unified broadcast and digital media portfolio centered around its core FM radio service (90.5 FM Columbus, 106.3 FM Newark), complemented by the WCBE Podcast Experience featuring multiple named shows including Protecting What Matters (Ohio Department of Commerce partnership), Depicting the Invisible (veterans and PTSD awareness), The Art of Attention (mindfulness), City League Sports (Columbus City Schools athletics), and Grow Global (global education). The station also produces local news and music programming including The Morning Mix and Live From Studio A live performances.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WCBE Podcast Experience: The station's branded podcast network featuring original podcasts including Protecting What Matters, Depicting the Invisible, The Art of Attention, City League Sports, and Grow Global.
Products and services
- WCBE 90.5 FM Broadcast Radio Public radio broadcast service airing on 90.5 FM in Columbus and 106.3 FM in Newark, Ohio, featuring music programming, news, and community content. Targeted at central Ohio listeners.
- The Morning Mix Weekday music show hosted by Mike Foley featuring emerging and established musicians, including local Columbus-area talent. Aired on WCBE 90.5 FM.
- Live From Studio A
Companies that use WCBE 90.5 FM
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WCBE 90.5 FM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WCBE 90.5 FM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreWCBE distributes NPR News content and programming, carrying shows like All Things Considered. NPR provides national and international news coverage that complements WCBE's local programming.
- Columbus City SchoolscoreWCBE is a broadcast service of Columbus City Schools. The district provides institutional support and funding, while WCBE provides student media training and educational programming for district students.
- Music Go RoundminorMusic Go Round Columbus sponsors The Morning Mix with Mike Foley, providing promotional support for the show.
- Kemba LiveminorPartnership with Kemba Live outdoor venue in Columbus for artist performances and event promotion, featuring artists like Les Claypool.
- National Veterans Memorial and MuseumminorThe Depicting the Invisible podcast and art exhibition by Susan J. Barron, produced by WCBE, was displayed at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus.
- Ohio Department of CommerceminorWCBE produces the Protecting What Matters podcast in partnership with the Ohio Department of Commerce, covering consumer protection, real estate, and business topics.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WCBE 90.5 FM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WAMU 88.5: Washington DC-area NPR member station operated by American University. Highly comparable as a university/community-affiliated public radio station producing original podcasts, local news, and national NPR distribution.
- WOSU Public Media: Columbus-based NPR and PBS affiliate operated by The Ohio State University. Directly competes with WCBE for the same Central Ohio listeners, donors, and regional underwriting clients.
- WBUR: Boston University-operated NPR member station with strong local news, original podcasts, and events programming. Comparable in size, mission, and multi-platform content strategy.
- WYPR: Baltimore-based NPR affiliate serving central Maryland. Closely comparable in operating scale, nonprofit/donation funding model, and mix of local news, music, and NPR distribution.
- KCRW: Santa Monica-based public radio station known for music discovery, live in-studio performances, and strong podcast distribution. Closely comparable to WCBE's Live From Studio A model and music programming emphasis.
- WESA Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based NPR member station with similar scale to WCBE. Highly comparable as a mid-market public radio outlet combining local news, music, and original podcasts.
- Michigan Public (WUOM): University of Michigan-operated NPR affiliate serving Southeast Michigan. Comparable in scale, institutional backing, and multi-format local news + music programming mix.
Regional players
- ideastream Public Media (WCPN): Cleveland-based NPR member station serving Northeast Ohio. Highly comparable in format, mission, and revenue model (donations, underwriting, CPB grants), competing for statewide Ohio donor and sponsor dollars.
- WVXU (Cincinnati Public Radio): Cincinnati-based NPR affiliate also distributing classical and news programming. Comparable in scale and operating model, and another Ohio-based competitor for statewide underwriting budgets.
Broad incumbents
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Larger regional public broadcaster operating both radio and TV across Oregon. Comparable in public-broadcaster mission and podcast/news output, but materially larger in scale and geographic reach than WCBE.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WCBE 90.5 FM social profiles
Digital presenceWCBE 90.5 FM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WCBE 90.5 FM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WCBE 90.5 FM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WCBE 90.5 FM 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 WCBE 90.5 FM
What does WCBE 90.5 FM do?
WCBE 90.5 FM is a non-commercial public radio station broadcasting on 90.5 FM in Columbus and 106.3 FM in Newark, Ohio. It delivers local and NPR news, music programming (including The Morning Mix and Live From Studio A performances), original podcasts (the WCBE Podcast Experience), and student-produced media as a broadcast service of Columbus City Schools.
Is WCBE 90.5 FM a public or private company?
WCBE 90.5 FM is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was WCBE 90.5 FM founded?
WCBE 90.5 FM was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WCBE 90.5 FM based?
WCBE 90.5 FM is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does WCBE 90.5 FM make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations are the primary driver. The others are business Underwriting / Program Sponsorship, public Broadcasting Funding and vehicle and Special Item Donations.
Who are WCBE 90.5 FM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WAMU 88.5, WOSU Public Media, WBUR, WYPR, KCRW, WESA Pittsburgh and Michigan Public (WUOM). Regional players are ideastream Public Media (WCPN) and WVXU (Cincinnati Public Radio). Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does WCBE 90.5 FM have an API?
No public API is recorded for WCBE 90.5 FM.
What industry is WCBE 90.5 FM in?
WCBE 90.5 FM's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABACAF, Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.