WVPE

What WVPE does

WVPE is a listener-supported public radio station operating at 88.1 FM under the legal name "WVPE 88.1 FM," licensed to and operated by Elkhart Community Schools in Elkhart, Indiana. The station serves the Michiana region (Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan, including Elkhart and South Bend) and is an NPR member station that also carries content from American Public Media, Public Radio Exchange, and the Michigan Public Radio Network. Its core product is FM radio broadcasting, augmented by digital streaming and an expanding portfolio of podcasts (Michiana Matters, Aha! With Alastair, Traveling Light with Stephanie Mirza, The Sauce with Dawn Burns), local news coverage, music and commentary programs (Blues Revue, J:Cubed Jazz, Michiana Chronicles), and a weekly email newsletter.

The technology stack is conventional public radio infrastructure: FM radio broadcast on 88.1 FM paired with website-based streaming and digital content distribution. No proprietary technology, patents, AI systems, or APIs are disclosed. The station operates FCC license WVPE(FM), renewed on July 16, 2020 and valid through August 1, 2028, and is subject to FCC and CPB regulatory requirements.

WVPE's business model is nonprofit and community-supported. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: individual listener memberships and donations (including one-time and recurring gifts, car donations, real estate donations, and legacy giving), corporate underwriting and sponsorship of programs and events, and federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on listener engagement, membership drives, volunteer programs, and community event participation. The station is led by Station Manager Anthony Hunt; specific staff size and financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

WVPE

Legal name

WVPE 88.1 FM

Website

https://wvpe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WVPE is a listener-supported public radio station (88.1 FM) operated by Elkhart Community Schools, serving the Michiana region of Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan as an NPR member station offering local news, music, and cultural programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• Local news coverage
• Community radio station
• NPR member station
• Educational broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkhart

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Membership and Donations: WVPE is a listener-supported service relying on donations from individual members. The station conducts membership campaigns and accepts one-time and recurring donations.
2. Corporate Support and Underwriting: Businesses provide corporate support through underwriting announcements, with disclosure requirements under FCC regulations. This includes corporate sponsorship of programs and events.
3. Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Funding: As a CPB-qualified public radio station, WVPE receives funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a federal agency that supports public media.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WVPE is a listener-supported public radio station broadcasting on 88.1 FM in the Michiana region (Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan). It delivers local news, NPR national programming, music shows, original podcasts, and cultural commentary as a non-commercial educational broadcaster licensed to and operated by Elkhart Community Schools.

Product overview

WVPE is a listener-supported public radio station (88.1 FM) operated by Elkhart Community Schools as an NPR member station. The station offers a unified broadcasting platform combining live radio programming with digital content including original local news coverage, podcasts (Michiana Matters, Aha! With Alastair, Traveling Light with Stephanie Mirza), music programs (Blues Revue, J:Cubed Jazz), commentary series (Michiana Chronicles), and membership/donation services. The core offering is broadcast radio supported by digital content distribution and listener-funded membership programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WVPE 88.1 FM Radio Broadcasting

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NPR (National Public Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWVPE is an NPR member station, receiving and redistributing NPR programming including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air. This affiliation provides access to national news coverage and established journalism.
• Michigan Public Radio NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWVPE participates in the Michigan Public Radio Network news service, providing regional news coverage for the Michiana area.
• Elkhart Community SchoolscoreOthersWVPE is licensed to and operated by Elkhart Community Schools as part of the school district's educational mission.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• KCRW: KCRW is a Santa Monica, California-based public radio station with NPR affiliation and a strong original music and culture programming focus, comparable to WVPE in operating model and emphasis on distinctive local programming alongside NPR content.
• WBEZ Chicago: WBEZ is an NPR member station serving the Chicago metropolitan area, comparable to WVPE in operating model (listener-supported public radio), programming mix (NPR news plus local journalism and music), and reliance on member donations and corporate underwriting.
• WFYI Public Media: WFYI is an Indianapolis-based NPR member station licensed to a local public entity, closely comparable to WVPE in Indiana market focus, public radio programming, and CPB funding dependency.
• WAMU 88.5: WAMU is a Washington, D.C.-based NPR member station operated by American University, comparable to WVPE in university/public-entity licensee structure, NPR affiliation, and local news + national programming mix.
• KEXP: KEXP is a Seattle-based listener-supported public radio station known for its music programming and global streaming audience, comparable to WVPE in nonprofit listener-supported model and emphasis on signature music programming (Blues Revue, J:Cubed Jazz).
• Michigan Public Radio (WUOM): WUOM is the University of Michigan-licensed NPR member station serving Southeast Michigan, directly comparable to WVPE as a public radio station with overlapping Michiana coverage area and shared Michigan Public Radio Network affiliation.
• WNIN Tri-State Public Media: WNIN is an NPR member public radio and TV station serving the Evansville, Indiana tri-state region, comparable to WVPE in being a small-market Indiana-based public broadcaster dependent on CPB funding and listener support.

Broad incumbents

• NPR (National Public Radio): NPR is the national public radio network of which WVPE is a member station; it is comparable as the broader incumbent in the same public radio space, distributing national programming that WVPE rebroadcasts and providing the brand and content infrastructure underlying member-station operations.
• American Public Media (APM): APM is a major national public radio producer and distributor whose programming WVPE carries; comparable as a broader public radio incumbent providing content infrastructure to small-market member stations like WVPE.

Others

• PRX (Public Radio Exchange): PRX is a public radio content distribution platform that provides additional programming to stations like WVPE; comparable as an ecosystem enabler and content intermediary supporting the public radio distribution model rather than as a direct broadcaster.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@memberswvpe2331
• Facebookfacebook.com/881WVPE
• Instagraminstagram.com/wvpe_88.1
• Xx.com/wvpe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wvpe-public-radio

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 WVPE