Means TV
Means TV is a worker-owned, anti-capitalist streaming service launched in 2019 in Portland, Maine, offering ad-free films, documentaries, originals, and daily news to progressive consumers at $9.99/month or $109.99/year via web, iOS, Android, and smart TV apps.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Means TV does
Means TV is a U.S.-based streaming media company operating as a worker-owned cooperative. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, it claims to be the world's first worker-owned, anti-capitalist streaming service. The platform delivers films, documentaries, original shows, and daily news programming, curated around independent and progressive content. The service is offered via a subscriber-funded model with monthly subscriptions at $9.99 (with a 7-day free trial) or annual subscriptions at $109.99, plus optional sliding-scale pricing and free access on request. Distribution is multi-platform, spanning a web player and native apps for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV, with Chromecast and AirPlay support, offline viewing, multi-language subtitles, picture-in-picture, and a built-in community forum.
The company is structured as a three-tier membership cooperative: Employee Members receive 70% of end-of-year profits, Contractor Members 20%, and Royalty Members (filmmakers, distributors, crew on original productions) 10%, with each tier represented on the Board of Directors. Means TV holds no venture capital and is funded entirely by subscribers and gift card purchases. It is a member of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives and adheres to the seven International Cooperative Alliance principles. Operational scale is small, with 11 employees, and the underlying video infrastructure is provided by a third-party OTT platform (uScreen), with Means TV retaining control over content curation, community engagement, and cooperative governance. A related sub-brand, Means Interactive (means.games), extends the cooperative's footprint into gaming.
Revenue mechanics rest on direct-to-consumer subscriptions priced below Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, with no advertising or product placement allowed under the platform's terms. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on progressive political networks, cooperative movement referrals, filmmaker word-of-mouth, and an ActionNetwork-hosted email newsletter for subscriber acquisition. Customer segments are horizontal personas — progressive consumers, independent creators, and ad-fatigued entertainment seekers — rather than enterprise accounts. No public revenue, subscriber count, or KPI disclosures are available, and the company has not raised institutional capital.
Means TV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Means TV
- Legal name
- Means, LLC
- Website
- https://means.tv
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Means TV is a worker-owned, anti-capitalist streaming service launched in 2019 in Portland, Maine, offering ad-free films, documentaries, originals, and daily news to progressive consumers at $9.99/month or $109.99/year via web, iOS, Android, and smart TV apps.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Means TV industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Subscription Video Streaming
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live TV Streaming (vMVPD/IPTV OTT) (MPACAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Game Subscription & Membership Services (BPAMAKAD)
Keywords
Means TV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Subscription Revenue: Monthly subscription at $9.99/month or annual subscription at $109.99/year. Includes 7-day free trial. Full access to content library, community forum, and exclusive original content.
- Gift Cards: Digital gift cards purchased and redeemed for subscription access
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription with 7-day free trial |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription with 1-month free bonus |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Means TV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Means TV operates a worker-owned, anti-capitalist subscription streaming service that delivers films, documentaries, original shows, and daily news content, 100% ad-free and viewer-supported with no venture capital backing. Subscribers gain access via a web platform and native applications across iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV, with offline viewing, picture-in-picture, multi-language subtitles, Chromecast/AirPlay support, and an integrated community forum. The service sells monthly ($9.99) and annual ($109.99) memberships with a 7-day free trial, sliding-scale pricing for accessibility, and digital gift cards as an entry point.
Product overview
Means TV operates as a single, unified streaming platform with multiple distribution channels. The core offering is a subscription-based streaming service delivering films, documentaries, original shows, and daily news content. Content is accessible via web browser, native mobile apps (iOS, Android), and smart TV applications (Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV). Additional features include offline viewing, a community forum, and gift card purchases. The platform distinguishes itself as a worker-owned cooperative with no advertisements or corporate funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Means Interactive: Gaming platform associated with Means TV, mentioned in navigation as https://means.games/
Products and services
- Means TV Streaming Service Subscription streaming platform offering films, documentaries, original shows, and daily news content to individual consumers; 100% ad-free, viewer-supported, and governed as a worker cooperative.
- Means TV Mobile App (iOS and Android) Native iOS and Android applications providing subscribers with full streaming functionality, offline downloads, community forum access, and subtitle support.
- Means TV Smart TV Apps (Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV) Native applications for Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV that allow subscribers to stream Means TV content on television displays, with casting support via Chromecast and AirPlay.
- Means TV Gift Cards Digital gift cards purchased on the Means TV website that recipients can redeem for subscription access to the streaming service, enabling gifting and broadening subscriber reach.
Quantifiable outcome
- Content library updated weekly with new programming
Companies that use Means TV
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Means TV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature5 records
Means TV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- U.S. Federation of Worker CooperativesminorMeans TV is a proud member of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. The cooperative follows the seven International Cooperative Alliance cooperative principles in its operations and governance.
- International Cooperative AllianceminorMeans TV subscribes to and follows the seven International Cooperative Alliance cooperative principles: voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, members' economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Means TV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MUBI: Curated independent and arthouse film SVOD serving cinephile audiences; comparable niche-positioning and similar subscription-only model with weekly catalog refresh.
- CuriosityStream: Niche SVOD focused on documentaries and factual programming; competes with Means TV for the same ad-free, education-leaning subscriber segment.
- The Criterion Channel: Curated classic and contemporary arthouse film SVOD; narrowly targeted audience with subscription-only pricing, closely mirroring Means TV's editorial positioning.
- Topic (First Look Media): First Look Media's independent film and documentary SVOD; similar mission-driven, ad-free positioning and curated left-leaning catalog.
- BritBox: Niche subscription streaming service focused on British content; analogous scale and SVOD-only model targeting a defined audience vertical.
- MagellanTV: Documentary-focused SVOD with subscription-only model; competes directly with Means TV's documentary catalog and similar price-point.
- Nebula: Creator-owned streaming platform launched by Standard and other independent creators; offers ad-free streaming with subscriber-funded economics analogous to Means TV's worker-cooperative model.
- Sundance Now: AMC Networks-owned SVOD curating independent films, documentaries, and original series; comparable niche positioning targeting cinephile and progressive audiences.
Broad incumbents
- Netflix: Dominant global SVOD incumbent; competes for the same subscription dollars and documentary/independent content audience despite vastly different scale.
- Tubi: Major Fox-owned free AVOD streaming platform; broader incumbent competing for independent and documentary viewer attention in the same content genre.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Means TV social profiles
Digital presenceMeans TV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Means TV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Means TV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Means 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 Means TV
What does Means TV do?
Means TV operates a worker-owned, anti-capitalist subscription streaming service that delivers films, documentaries, original shows, and daily news content, 100% ad-free and viewer-supported with no venture capital backing. Subscribers gain access via a web platform and native applications across iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV, with offline viewing, picture-in-picture, multi-language subtitles, Chromecast/AirPlay support, and an integrated community forum. The service sells monthly ($9.99) and annual ($109.99) memberships with a 7-day free trial, sliding-scale pricing for accessibility, and digital gift cards as an entry point.
Is Means TV a public or private company?
Means TV is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Means TV founded?
Means TV was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does Means TV make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are gift Cards.
Who are Means TV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MUBI, CuriosityStream, The Criterion Channel, Topic (First Look Media), BritBox, MagellanTV, Nebula and Sundance Now. Broad incumbents are Netflix and Tubi.
Does Means TV have an API?
No public API is recorded for Means TV.
What industry is Means TV in?
Means TV's product category is Subscription Video Streaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAAAD, Live TV Streaming (vMVPD/IPTV OTT), with a secondary code of BPAMAKAD, Game Subscription & Membership Services. Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 4841.