act.tv
act.tv is a progressive media company providing broadcast-quality livestreaming, virtual event production, and digital strategy services to progressive political campaigns, non-profits, and PACs, with original content distributed via Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What act.tv does
ACT.TV is a progressive media company and project of Democrats.com that provides professional broadcast-quality livestreaming and digital content production services to progressive political organizations, non-profits, and political action committees. Founded in 2012 by Bob Fertik and Harry Waisbren, the company operates four core service lines: ACT.TV IRL (on-location event production for marches, rallies, press conferences, and civil disobedience), Produced Virtual Livestreams (remote speaker production in broadcast TV-style format), Feature Events (galas, fundraisers, and conferences with dynamic fundraising graphics), and Digital Strategy (social media management, instant highlight clips, and sizzle reel videos). The company's underlying technology centers on a proprietary state-of-the-art virtual livestream production workflow developed during COVID-19, enabling multi-platform distribution with broadcast-quality reliability, redundant video uplinks, and CTA-708 captioning.
The company generates revenue primarily through professional services fees for event production and digital strategy engagements, with supplementary advertising revenue from distribution of original progressive programming through native apps on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV, as well as across a broad social media network on Facebook and Twitter/X. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. An in-house original programming portfolio — including The Benjamin Dixon Show, ActNOW, Solidarity Live, CareTalk, Black Power Magic Hour, Left of Left, Like It Or Not, and On The Clock — is distributed across connected TV platforms and social channels to build audience engagement and brand recognition within the progressive ecosystem.
ACT.TV's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging its deep ties to Democrats.com's 7M+ member network and founder Bob Fertik's standing in the progressive activist community. The company is privately held, operates without disclosed institutional funding, and is staffed by a small team of approximately 10 employees based in New York, NY. Named customers include congressional campaigns, national advocacy organizations, and PACs such as Pramila Jayapal, National PTA, UltraViolet, and Jane PAC.
act.tv firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- act.tv
- Legal name
- act.tv
- Website
- https://act.tv
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- act.tv is a progressive media company providing broadcast-quality livestreaming, virtual event production, and digital strategy services to progressive political campaigns, non-profits, and PACs, with original content distributed via Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
act.tv industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Event Production Services
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Public Relations Agencies (54182)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Political & Public Affairs Channels (MPABAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- IRL & Lifestyle Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAC), Interactive/Watch-Party & Social Video Streaming Platforms (MPACAAAM), Educational Live Streaming Platforms (Classes/Tutorials) (MPACACAH)
Keywords
act.tv business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- IRL Event Production Services: Broadcast production services for in-real-life events including marches, rallies, press conferences, speeches, keynote discussions, civil disobedience, and other live events. Crews travel the country to amplify voices and bridge to wider audiences.
- Produced Virtual Livestreams: Broadcast TV-style virtual livestream production bringing remote speakers together for various formats. Includes pre-production consultation, production, distribution, and post-production services.
- Feature Event Production: Production of star-studded shows, galas, fundraisers, conferences, and film festivals. Includes programming consultation, script writing, guest booking, coalition politics, and fundraising strategy with dynamic graphics.
- Digital Strategy Services: Cutting edge digital services ranging from one-off projects to comprehensive social media management. Includes video production, social graphics, rapid response content, instant highlight clips, and sizzle reel videos.
- Original Content Distribution: Distribution of original progressive media content through Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV apps and social media platforms, building viewership and engagement for the progressive movement.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
act.tv product offering
Product offeringCore offering
act.tv is a progressive media company that produces broadcast-quality livestreaming and digital content for progressive political organizations, campaigns, and non-profits. Its core offerings are four professional services: ACT.TV IRL (on-location livestream coverage of marches, rallies, and press conferences), Produced Virtual Livestreams (broadcast TV-style remote-speaker productions), Feature Events (galas, fundraisers, conferences, and film festivals), and Digital Strategy (social video, graphics, and content management). The company also produces and distributes original progressive programming via Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and social media.
Product overview
act.tv is a progressive media company offering a suite of livestreaming and digital content services. The core offerings consist of four main service areas: ACT.TV IRL (on-location event coverage), Produced Virtual Livestreams (remote speaker production), Feature Events (large-scale virtual events and fundraisers), and Digital Strategy (social media management and video content creation). The company also produces original progressive programming including The Benjamin Dixon Show, actNOW with Julianna Forlano, Solidarity Live, CareTalk with Laura Packard, Black Power Magic Hour, Left of Left with JamesFromTheInternet, Like It Or Not, and On The Clock. All content is distributed via the act.tv website, social media network (Facebook), and dedicated apps on streaming platforms including Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Benjamin Dixon Show: News and commentary from a progressive perspective.
- ActNOW with Julianna Forlano
- Solidarity Live
- CareTalk with Laura Packard
- Black Power Magic Hour
- Left of Left with JamesFromTheInternet
- Like It Or Not
- On The Clock
Products and services
- ACT.TV IRL On-location livestreaming services covering marches, rallies, press conferences, speeches, keynote discussions, civil disobedience, and other real-world events with broadcast-quality productions, redundant video uplinks, and CTA-708 captioning. Designed for progressive organizations, campaigns, and movement events needing professional live coverage.
- Produced Virtual Livestreams State-of-the-art virtual livestream production bringing remote speakers together for broadcast TV-style productions in various formats, including pre-production consultation, production, distribution, and post-production services. Targeted at organizations running remote or hybrid events.
- Feature Events Production of star-studded shows, galas, fundraisers, conferences, and film festivals with multi-camera production, guest booking, coalition politics support, custom landing pages, and real-time fundraising graphics. Built to maximize conversions and donations during high-profile progressive events.
- Digital Strategy Cutting-edge digital services including video production, social media management, instant highlight clips, sizzle reel videos, rapid response content, and high-performance social graphics designed for maximum organic reach and viral potential. Offered as one-off projects or comprehensive ongoing social media management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Produced mega-viral videos that impacted elections
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use act.tv
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
act.tv technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature6 records
act.tv partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Democrats.comcoreACT.TV is a project of Democrats.com, the oldest and largest independent online community of Democratic Party and progressive activists. Democrats.com was co-founded by Bob Fertik in 2000 and has grown to over 7 million members. This organizational relationship provides ACT.TV with deep roots in the progressive activist community and access to a large network of progressive activists.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
act.tv competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AJ+: Al Jazeera's digital news platform producing progressive-leaning video content for social media audiences. Comparable in social video distribution strategy and progressive editorial positioning.
- Attn: Progressive digital media company producing social-first video content focused on social issues, politics, and identity. Comparable in progressive values and social video distribution approach, though at significantly larger scale.
- NowThis: Progressive social-first video news outlet producing short-form content on politics, social issues, and activism. Comparable as a progressive video news organization distributing across social and connected TV platforms.
- MSNBC: Major cable news network with progressive-leaning political commentary and original programming. Comparable as a progressive political media brand, though at vastly larger scale and with traditional broadcast distribution.
- The Young Turks: One of the largest progressive digital news networks, producing daily news content and original shows across multiple platforms. Comparable as a progressive-leaning digital media organization with broader audience reach and more established infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Patriot Majority: Progressive political organization producing video content for advocacy and political campaigns. Comparable as a progressive political media producer serving campaigns and movement organizations.
- MeidasTouch: Progressive political media network producing viral video content and rapid-response political messaging. Comparable as a digitally-native progressive media company focused on viral political content production.
- MoveOn: Progressive political advocacy organization with significant digital media operations including video content production. Comparable as a progressive movement organization that produces and distributes political video content to activist audiences.
- Crooked Media: Progressive media company known for Pod Save America and other podcasts, producing political news and commentary content. Directly comparable as a progressive-aligned digital media brand with both original content and political event expertise.
Others
- iHeartMedia: Major media company with podcast and digital content distribution. ACT.TV's CareTalk podcast distributes via iHeart, representing a comparable podcast/audio distribution ecosystem player.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
act.tv social profiles
Digital presenceact.tv financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
act.tv leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
act.tv funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
act.tv 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 act.tv
What does act.tv do?
act.tv is a progressive media company that produces broadcast-quality livestreaming and digital content for progressive political organizations, campaigns, and non-profits. Its core offerings are four professional services: ACT.TV IRL (on-location livestream coverage of marches, rallies, and press conferences), Produced Virtual Livestreams (broadcast TV-style remote-speaker productions), Feature Events (galas, fundraisers, conferences, and film festivals), and Digital Strategy (social video, graphics, and content management). The company also produces and distributes original progressive programming via Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and social media.
Is act.tv a public or private company?
act.tv is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was act.tv founded?
act.tv was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does act.tv make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. IRL Event Production Services are the primary driver. The others are produced Virtual Livestreams, feature Event Production, digital Strategy Services and original Content Distribution.
Who are act.tv's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AJ+, Attn:, NowThis, MSNBC and The Young Turks. Direct peers are Patriot Majority, MeidasTouch, MoveOn and Crooked Media. iHeartMedia is listed as an others.
Does act.tv have an API?
No public API is recorded for act.tv.
What industry is act.tv in?
act.tv's product category is Live Event Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAIAC, Political & Public Affairs Channels, with a secondary code of MPACACAC, IRL & Lifestyle Live Streaming Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 7812.