WYES
WYES is a non-profit public television station serving southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1957. It produces and broadcasts original local documentaries, cooking series, and weekly programs while generating revenue through memberships, corporate underwriting, fundraising events, and national content licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WYES does
WYES is a non-profit community-licensed public television station operating under the legal entity Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation, headquartered at 916 Navarre Avenue in New Orleans. Founded April 1, 1957 as the 12th oldest public television station in the nation, WYES serves southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast through over-the-air broadcast on Channel 12 (with subchannels including WYES HDTV, WORLD, Create, and PBS Kids 24/7), cable distribution, digital streaming via the PBS app, and an on-demand membership service called WYES Passport ($96+/year or $8/month). The station produces original local content spanning cooking series (Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey, Louisiana Coastal Cooking, Dooky Chase Kitchen: Leah's Legacy, Kevin Belton's Cookin' Louisiana), weekly news/culture programs (Steppin' Out since 1986, Informed Sources since 1984), and documentaries (Turning the Tide, Literary New Orleans, Louisiana Inventors and Innovators), with select titles distributed nationally through American Public Television.
WYES generates revenue through a diversified non-profit model: annual memberships and donations (primary stream, starting at $40/year with Passport access at $96+), corporate underwriting and program sponsorship (Entergy, Ochsner Health, Hancock Whitney, Rouses Markets, Meraux Foundation), tiered major-gift Producers Circle ($1,500-$25,000/year), fundraising events including the Season of Good Tastes wine pairing dinners ($135-$200/person across nine restaurants, running 33 years), travel programs with Collette/Travel Central, national program licensing via American Public Television, and DVD/merchandise sales. The station also operates educational programs (Digital Media Summer Camp, Electronic Field Trips for grades 5-8, PBS Learning Media) and maintains a production subsidiary, YES Productions.
WYES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WYES
- Legal name
- Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation
- Website
- https://wyes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WYES is a non-profit public television station serving southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1957. It produces and broadcasts original local documentaries, cooking series, and weekly programs while generating revenue through memberships, corporate underwriting, fundraising events, and national content licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WYES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Television Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Television Networks & Member Stations (PBS-style) (MPABADAA), Educational/Public-Service Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAE)
Keywords
Where WYES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WYES 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 Donations: Primary revenue source from viewer memberships and donations. WYES Passport benefit provided at $96+ annual level. Member benefits begin at $40 level. Monthly sustaining gifts available from $8/month.
- Corporate Underwriting and Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors underwrite specific programs with benefits including on-air recognition, promotional announcements, and sponsor exclusivity. Program underwriting generates revenue from local and national businesses.
- Season of Good Tastes Events: Annual wine pairing dinner event featuring nine participating restaurants. Proceeds benefit WYES programming. Ticket prices range from $135-$200 per dinner.
- Program Distribution: WYES produces local content distributed nationally through American Public Television. Cooking series like Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey reach viewers beyond the local broadcast area.
- Digital Media Products: Sale of DVDs of WYES documentaries and local programming. Digital Media Summer Camp generates revenue through enrollment fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | WYES Passport Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Producers Circle Tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Season of Good Tastes Wine Pairing Dinners |
| Subscription | Annual | General Membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Take Your Seat Campaign |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
WYES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WYES is a community-supported, non-profit PBS member television station that broadcasts PBS programming and locally produced original shows across four over-the-air sub-channels (12.1–12.4) and via streaming on wyes.org/live, the PBS app, and a members-only WYES Passport on-demand tier. Beyond broadcast distribution, the station produces local programming distributed nationally through American Public Television, delivers educational content and resources (including Electronic Field Trips and PBS LearningMedia access for grades 5–12), and operates ancillary paid offerings such as cooking events, group travel programs, summer media camps, and DVD sales.
Product overview
WYES is a local PBS television station serving southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1957. The organization operates as a multi-platform media company offering broadcast television (WYES-TV), streaming services (WYES Passport), and local programming. Its core products include the WYES Passport subscription streaming service providing on-demand access to PBS and local content, and locally produced programs spanning cooking series (DOOK CHASE: A CHEF'S JOURNEY, LOUISIANA COASTAL COOKING, THE DOOKY CHASE KITCHEN: LEAH'S LEGACY, KEVIN BELTON'S COOKIN' LOUISIANA), documentaries (ARTHUR HARDY: OUR MARDI GRAS GUIDE, LITERARY NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS), news/talk programs (STEPPIN' OUT, INFORMED SOURCES), and children's programming (PBS KIDS 24/7). The station also operates educational initiatives including Digital Media Summer Camp, Electronic Field Trips, and PBS Learning Media, and hosts community events such as the Season of Good Tastes wine pairing dinners and Holiday Marketplace.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WYES Passport: A member benefit providing on-demand access to thousands of hours of PBS and local WYES programming online
- YES Productions
Products and services
- WYES-TV Channel 12 Broadcast Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Free PBS programming delivered to southeast Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast viewers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use WYES
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WYES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
WYES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CriollocoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes wine pairing dinner series. Chef de Cuisine Joseph Maynard hosts dinner on May 15, 2026 at $200/person including tax and gratuity.
- Saffron NOLAcoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Executive Chef Arvinder Vilku hosts dinner on May 21, 2026 at $195/person.
- Gabrielle'scoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Executive Chef Greg Sonnier and Wine & Spirits Director Gabrielle Sonnier Prudhomme host dinner on May 28, 2026 at $185/person.
- RosedalecoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Executive Chef Susan Spicer and Chef Allison Birdsall host dinner on June 2, 2026 at $155/person.
- Ralph's on the ParkcoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Executive Chef Christopher Vazquez hosts dinner on June 17, 2026 at $145/person.
- Gautreau'scoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Chef Rob Mistry hosts dinner on June 25, 2026 at $195/person.
- BriquettecoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Executive Chef Peter Isaac and Chef de Cuisine John Trinh host dinner on July 10, 2026 at $135/person.
- Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co.coreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Chef Jordan Entwirle hosts dinner on July 15, 2026 at $145/person.
- ZasucoreParticipating restaurant in 2026 Season of Good Tastes. Executive Chef Sue Zemanick hosts dinner on July 26, 2026 at $180/person.
- American Public TelevisioncoreNational distributor for WYES programming including Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey series. Distributes local productions to public television stations nationwide.
- PBScoreNational public broadcasting network partner. WYES operates as local PBS affiliate providing national programming and streaming infrastructure via PBS Video app.
- The Melvin S. Cohen Foundation, Inc.minorNational sponsor for Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey cooking series.
- Zatarain'sminorNational sponsor for Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey cooking series.
- Camellia BrandminorNational sponsor for Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey cooking series.
- Rouses MarketsminorLocal sponsor for Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey cooking series.
- St. Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention CommissionminorLocal sponsor for Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey cooking series.
- Collette TravelminorTravel partner offering trips with portion of proceeds benefiting WYES. Current trips include Holland and Belgium River Cruise (March 2027), Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park (June 2026), Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside (November 2026).
- Travel CentralminorTravel partner offering trips with portion of proceeds benefiting WYES. Contact: (504) 834-7000 or [email protected]
- Caire Hotel & Restaurant SupplyminorSponsor for Season of Good Tastes wine pairing dinners. 'Where the chefs shop' - supporting Louisiana and New Orleans culinary community for over 25 years.
- Thompson Packers, Inc.minorMeat supplier donating product to Season of Good Tastes participating restaurants. Founded 1953 in New Orleans French Market, now leader in meatpacking industry.
- A.J.'s ProduceminorProduce supplier donating to Season of Good Tastes participating restaurants. Third-generation family business grown from French Market to one of New Orleans' largest produce suppliers.
- EntergyminorCorporate supporter of WYES. Featured sponsor of PBS Kids content and digital media summer camp.
- Rouse's MarketsminorCorporate supporter of WYES. Local grocery chain supporting community programming.
- Ochsner HealthminorCorporate supporter of WYES. Presented TOM BENSON: THE LIFE AND LEGACY documentary.
- Hancock Whitney BankminorCorporate supporter of WYES. Community bank supporting local programming.
- Arlene & Joseph Meraux FoundationminorFoundation supporter of WYES and New Orleans Tricentennial Moments programming.
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FoundationcoreCo-producer of Irma: My Life in Music documentary. Provided archival footage from Jazz Fest performances and historical materials for the documentary.
- Michael Murphy ProductionscoreProduction partner for Irma: My Life in Music documentary. Provided decades of archival performance footage filmed at Jazz Fest.
- The Historic New Orleans CollectioncoreAssociation partner for New Orleans Tricentennial programming including Literary New Orleans documentary and Tricentennial Moments segments.
- NOCHI (New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute)minorFeatured location in Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey. Chef Zoe Chase, GM Gerald Duhon, and chefs Jacob Anguino and Rebecca Klaskala participate in the cooking series.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WYES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KQED (San Francisco): KQED is the PBS member station for the Bay Area with deep local programming, membership model, and Passport streaming. Like WYES, it positions itself as the local storyteller for its region and produces award-winning documentaries.
- WNET (New York): WNET/Thirteen is a flagship PBS station producing Great Performances and Amanpour. It is comparable to WYES as a nonprofit PBS member station with original programming, membership tiers, and national distribution reach.
- WGBH (Boston): WGBH is a major PBS member station producing national programming such as Frontline and NOVA. It is comparable to WYES as a community-licensed public television station with original local productions, membership model, and Passport-style streaming benefits.
- Maryland Public Television (MPT): MPT is a statewide PBS member station producing original local programming. Like WYES, it combines broadcast TV, Passport streaming, educational outreach, and community events funded through memberships and underwriting.
- WTTW (Chicago): WTTW is the Chicago PBS station producing original programming including Chicago Tonight. It mirrors WYES's structure as a community-licensed public station with weekly news/public affairs shows and award-winning local documentaries.
- KCET (Los Angeles): KCET is a PBS-affiliated public station serving Southern California with original local programming. It is comparable to WYES as a community-supported station focused on regional storytelling and cultural content.
- WETA (Washington DC): WETA is a PBS station serving the DC metro with original local documentaries and PBS distribution. Like WYES, it operates a community-supported membership model and produces award-winning local content.
Broad incumbents
- PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): PBS is the national public television network of which WYES is a member station. It is the broader incumbent that supplies national programming, Passport streaming infrastructure, and the PBS app used by WYES members.
Regional players
- Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB): LPB is the statewide PBS network for Louisiana, operating as a peer public broadcaster within the same state. It is comparable to WYES in operating model (nonprofit, member-supported, PBS affiliate) but competes for statewide viewership and underwriting dollars.
Others
- American Public Television: APT is the national distribution partner that carries WYES-produced series like Dook Chase: A Chef's Journey to public television stations across the U.S. It is a key channel/distributor relationship rather than a competitor, but materially comparable in the public broadcasting ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WYES social profiles
Digital presenceWYES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WYES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
WYES subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
WYES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WYES 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 WYES
What does WYES do?
WYES is a community-supported, non-profit PBS member television station that broadcasts PBS programming and locally produced original shows across four over-the-air sub-channels (12.1–12.4) and via streaming on wyes.org/live, the PBS app, and a members-only WYES Passport on-demand tier. Beyond broadcast distribution, the station produces local programming distributed nationally through American Public Television, delivers educational content and resources (including Electronic Field Trips and PBS LearningMedia access for grades 5–12), and operates ancillary paid offerings such as cooking events, group travel programs, summer media camps, and DVD sales.
Is WYES a public or private company?
WYES is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WYES founded?
WYES was founded in 1957. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WYES based?
WYES is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does WYES make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Underwriting and Sponsorship, season of Good Tastes Events, program Distribution and digital Media Products.
Who are WYES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KQED (San Francisco), WNET (New York), WGBH (Boston), Maryland Public Television (MPT), WTTW (Chicago), KCET (Los Angeles) and WETA (Washington DC). PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is listed as a broad incumbent. Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is listed as a regional player. American Public Television is listed as an others.
Does WYES have an API?
No public API is recorded for WYES.
What industry is WYES in?
WYES's product category is Public Television Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABADAA, National Public Television Networks & Member Stations (PBS-style). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.