WUTC Public Radio

Public Radio Broadcastingwutc.org

WUTC Public Radio is an NPR-affiliate FM station (88.1) operated by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, broadcasting news, music, and original local podcasts to the Chattanooga and Tennessee Valley region via FM, HD Radio, streaming, mobile apps, and smart speakers.

Company typePrivate
Founded-
HeadquartersOlympia, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What WUTC Public Radio does

WUTC Public Radio is an NPR-affiliate non-commercial FM radio station operating on 88.1 MHz from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus, serving the Chattanooga metropolitan area and Tennessee Valley region. The station broadcasts 24/7 via over-the-air FM and HD Radio (HD1 main programming, HD2 a 24/7 all-music channel branded WUTC2), with parallel distribution through a website live stream, native iOS and Android applications, smart speaker integrations (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod/Siri), and major podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast). Content is also selectable as a local home station inside the NPR app. Programming combines NPR and American Public Media national content with locally produced shows and a portfolio of six original podcasts — Scenic Roots, Hidden Corners, CH-AI Brews, Tennessee Valley StoryCorps, We Care Now, and Live In The Library — covering regional news, culture, and community stories.

The station is operated as an entity of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, under the governance of the UT System Board of Trustees, and receives funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). WUTC is a listener-supported public radio station that does not sell commercial advertising. Revenue is generated through voluntary listener donations (one-time and recurring, with options for IRA charitable distributions, stock gifts, property, and vehicle donations), corporate underwriting and sponsorship packages, CPB and government grants, merchandise sales, and supporting programs such as matching gifts, planned giving, and the April 2025 NPR+ Podcast Bundle. Distribution relies on a community-led GTM motion: pledge drives, local events, social media engagement on Facebook and Instagram, email newsletters, and partnerships with the UTC campus and regional civic organizations. The operation is lean, with 1–10 staff, and FCC-licensed.

WUTC Public Radio firmographics

Firmographics

Name: WUTC Public Radio
Legal name: WUTC-FM
Website: https://wutc.org
Company type: Private
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: WUTC Public Radio is an NPR-affiliate FM station (88.1) operated by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, broadcasting news, music, and original local podcasts to the Chattanooga and Tennessee Valley region via FM, HD Radio, streaming, mobile apps, and smart speakers.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

WUTC Public Radio industry classification

Industry

Product category: Public Radio Broadcasting
NAICS: Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
SIC: Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
akta.pro primary industry: National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)
akta.pro secondary industries: Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), University/College-licensed Public Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABADAD), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

Keywords

Public radio broadcasting
NPR affiliate station
Community radio
Music programming
Local journalism

Where WUTC Public Radio is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Olympia
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

WUTC Public Radio business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Listener Donations and Memberships: Primary revenue source from listener-supported donations during pledge drives and ongoing membership programs. Listeners contribute through online giving portals, IRA qualified charitable distributions, stock donations, property donations, and vehicle donations.
Corporate Underwriting and Sponsorship: Business sponsors support the station in exchange for on-air acknowledgment and recognition. Sponsors receive directory listings and various promotional benefits.
CPB and Government Funding: WUTC receives funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as part of the public broadcasting ecosystem, with oversight from the University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees.
Merchandise Sales: Station merchandise store selling branded items to supporters and listeners.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Monthly	Listener donation programs with various giving levels

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

WUTC Public Radio product offering

Product offering

Core offering

WUTC Public Radio is a listener-supported, NPR-affiliated public radio station broadcasting news, music, and local content 24/7 on 88.1 FM from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus. It delivers programming through over-the-air FM, HD Radio digital channels, live internet streaming, iOS/Android mobile apps, smart speakers, and podcast platforms, including original local podcasts such as Scenic Roots and Tennessee Valley StoryCorps. Funding comes from listener donations, memberships, corporate underwriting, and grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Product overview

WUTC Public Radio operates as a public broadcasting station affiliated with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, offering a multi-platform radio and digital media portfolio. The core offering consists of FM radio broadcasting on 88.1 FM (including HD1/HD2 digital channels), live internet streaming via website and mobile apps, and a collection of locally-produced podcasts including Hidden Corners, CH-AI Brews, Tennessee Valley StoryCorps, We Care Now, Scenic Roots, and Live In The Library. Content distribution extends through smart speakers (Alexa, Google Home, HomePod), podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast), and the NPR News app. The station also features WUTC2 for live event streaming and community engagement programs like DJ For An Hour.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

WUTC2: 24/7 all-music HD2 channel broadcast alongside main station

Products and services

WUTC 88.1 FM Radio Broadcast Traditional over-the-air analog radio broadcasting on 88.1 FM frequency serving Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley region with news, music, and NPR programming.
HD Radio Multi-Channel (HD1/HD2) Digital HD radio transmission with HD1 carrying the main station format and HD2 offering a 24/7 all-music channel for HD Radio-equipped receivers.
Scenic Roots Podcast WUTC's flagship local news and culture podcast featuring stories from the Chattanooga region, including America 250 coverage.
Hidden Corners Podcast Local podcast featuring WUTC-produced stories and content about the Chattanooga and Tennessee Valley region.
CH-AI Brews Podcast Local podcast series produced by WUTC covering Chattanooga-area content.
Tennessee Valley StoryCorps Podcast Podcast featuring recorded conversations between community members in the Tennessee Valley, part of the national StoryCorps initiative.
We Care Now Podcast Local podcast focused on community stories and Ed Johnson in the Chattanooga area.
Live In The Library Podcast Local podcast recorded live from the library featuring performances and interviews.
WUTC Public Radio Mobile App Dedicated iOS and Android mobile application for streaming WUTC 88.1 live radio and accessing on-demand content including podcasts.
WUTC2 Secondary Stream Secondary streaming channel offering 24/7 all-music programming broadcast on 88.1 HD2 and available online as an alternative to the main news/talk format.
Business Sponsorship / Corporate Underwriting Sponsorship program for businesses to support WUTC in exchange for on-air acknowledgement, directory listings, and promotional benefits associated with public radio journalism.
WUTC Merchandise Store Branded merchandise store selling WUTC-themed items to supporters and listeners as a fundraising channel.
Listener Membership and Pledge Giving Program Listener membership and giving program allowing supporters to contribute through one-time or recurring donations, IRA qualified charitable distributions, stock gifts, property donations, and vehicle donations.

Quantifiable outcome

Live radio streaming available 24/7 via multiple digital platforms
+1 more outcomes

Companies that use WUTC Public Radio

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

WUTC Public Radio technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

WUTC Public Radio partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

NPR (National Public Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUTC is an affiliate member station of NPR, receiving access to national news coverage, journalism programs, and content that supplements local programming. This partnership provides listeners with nationally recognized journalism alongside WUTC's local coverage.
American Public Media (APM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUTC carries programming from American Public Media, a major public radio producer, providing additional national content for listeners.
PRX (Public Radio Exchange)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRX logo appears on station materials indicating partnership for program acquisition and distribution of public radio content.
University of Tennessee at ChattanoogacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUTC-FM is an entity of UTC, with the university providing oversight, facilities, and institutional support. The station serves the university's educational mission and community engagement goals.
University of Tennessee System Board of TrusteescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUTC operates under the governance of the UT System Board of Trustees, which oversees all UT System enterprises including UTC and its public broadcasting entity.
FCC (Federal Communications Commission)coreOthersWUTC maintains an FCC broadcast license and operates under regulatory oversight. The station publishes its public file and complies with FCC requirements for public radio broadcasting.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

WUTC Public Radio competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Regional players

WBHM 90.3: Birmingham, Alabama's NPR member station serving a Southeastern U.S. market with a listener-supported, multi-platform public radio model comparable to WUTC's regional footprint.
WABE 90.1: Atlanta's NPR member station with listener donations, underwriting, podcast production, and multi-platform distribution — a larger Southeastern regional public radio peer with a similar operating playbook.

Others

American Public Media: Major national public radio content producer and distributor whose programming WUTC carries. Operates as an upstream content/distribution partner rather than a direct station competitor.
PRX (Public Radio Exchange): Public radio program acquisition and distribution platform that supplies content to stations including WUTC. Functions as an ecosystem enabler for public radio rather than a station-level competitor.

Broad incumbents

Audacy: Major U.S. commercial radio and podcast operator with stations and digital audio platforms competing for listener attention, ad budgets, and podcast share in the same regional markets.
NPR (National Public Radio): The national public radio network that WUTC is affiliated with. NPR provides national programming, the NPR News app integration, and the NPR+ bundle that WUTC leverages — operating at network scale across the same content category.
iHeartMedia: Largest U.S. commercial radio operator with stations in Chattanooga and Tennessee. Competes for the same regional audio audience and advertising/underwriting dollars, though via a commercial model.

Direct peers

WKNO 91.1 Memphis: Memphis-based NPR member station with listener-supported funding, HD broadcasting, and local programming — another Tennessee/regional public radio peer with comparable operating model.
WUOT 91.9 Knoxville: University of Tennessee Knoxville's NPR member station. Operates under the same UT System governance structure as WUTC with a near-identical university-licensed public radio model, making it a direct operational peer.
WPLN Nashville Public Radio: Nashville's NPR member station operating in Tennessee with a comparable listener-supported, community-funded model, multi-platform distribution, and local podcast portfolio — making it the closest same-state peer to WUTC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

WUTC Public Radio financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

WUTC Public Radio leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

WUTC Public Radio funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

WUTC Public Radio M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WUTC Public Radio

What does WUTC Public Radio do?

Is WUTC Public Radio a public or private company?

WUTC Public Radio is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was WUTC Public Radio founded?

WUTC Public Radio was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is WUTC Public Radio based?

WUTC Public Radio is headquartered in Olympia, United States, in the North America region.

How does WUTC Public Radio make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are corporate Underwriting and Sponsorship, CPB and Government Funding and merchandise Sales.

Who are WUTC Public Radio's main competitors?

Regional players on record are WBHM 90.3 and WABE 90.1. Others are American Public Media and PRX (Public Radio Exchange). Broad incumbents are Audacy, NPR (National Public Radio) and iHeartMedia. Direct peers are WKNO 91.1 Memphis, WUOT 91.9 Knoxville and WPLN Nashville Public Radio.

Does WUTC Public Radio have an API?

No public API is recorded for WUTC Public Radio.

What industry is WUTC Public Radio in?

WUTC Public Radio's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.