west tennessee public television council

What west tennessee public television council does

West Tennessee Public Television Council, Inc., operating as West TN PBS (WLJT-TV 11), is a 501c3 nonprofit public television station that has broadcast from the University of Tennessee at Martin since 1968, originally under state ownership before being transferred to community control in 1981. The station operates three FCC-licensed channels: 11.1 (primary PBS), 11.2 (PBS KIDS 24/7), and 11.3 (Create lifestyle programming), reaching 21 counties across West Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Mississippi via over-the-air, cable, satellite, and streaming platforms including PBS App, YouTube TV, Hulu LIVE, and Amazon Prime. The station produces a slate of original local programs including Tennessee is Talking, All About Home History, Spotlight 11, Channel 11 Checkup, Tennessee Writes, Retro 11, and Steve Beverly's TV Classics, along with educational outreach such as the annual Young Writers & Illustrators Contest.

The organization's revenue model is donation-driven, supported by individual contributions, sustainer memberships, PBS Passport memberships, planned giving and estate gifts, and federal and state grants for public broadcasting. The Tennessee Department of Education is a key institutional partner, coordinating two hours of daily instructional programming with other Tennessee PBS stations through the Tennessee Public Television Council. The station holds a registered trademark (ALL ABOUT HOME®) and operates under a 16-member board of directors, led by President & CEO Peter Noll, with a small team of roughly seven staff plus production contractors.

Recent strategic activity has been defined by a $900,000 federal funding cut that triggered operational restructuring, including ending production of the monthly Spotlight Magazine and launching public donation appeals. In parallel, the station acquired the Jackson Media Center in June 2023 to expand presence in Madison County with new offices, meeting spaces, and production facilities. The combination of cost pressures and physical expansion positions the organization in a turnaround posture as it works to diversify revenue streams and broaden multi-platform distribution.

Name

west tennessee public television council

Legal name

West Tennessee Public Television Council, Inc.

Website

https://wljt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

West Tennessee Public Television Council operates WLJT-TV 11, a nonprofit PBS member station broadcasting three channels and streaming across multiple platforms to 21 counties in West Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Mississippi, producing original local programming and educational content funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Public Television Networks & Member Stations (PBS-style) (MPABADAA)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• Educational television programming
• Local community media
• Nonprofit broadcasting station
• Children's educational content

Headquarters

HQ city

Martin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual donor contributions, membership programs, sustainer programs for ongoing financial support
2. Federal and State Grants: Government funding for public broadcasting operations; station has experienced $900,000 loss in grants impacting operations
3. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, retirement asset gifts
4. Passport Membership: PBS Passport program offering extended content access for station members

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

West Tennessee Public Television Council operates WLJT-TV 11, an FCC-licensed nonprofit public television station broadcasting three over-the-air channels (11.1 primary PBS, 11.2 PBS KIDS 24/7, 11.3 Create) to 21 counties in West Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Mississippi. The station produces local original programming and distributes content via cable, satellite, and streaming platforms. Operations are funded through individual donations, memberships, federal/state grants, and planned giving.

Product overview

West TN PBS WLJT-TV 11 operates as a multi-platform public media organization offering three broadcast television channels (11.1 primary PBS, 11.2 PBS Kids 24/7, 11.3 Create lifestyle channel) distributed over-the-air, on cable/satellite, and via streaming services including PBS App, YouTube TV, Hulu LIVE, and Amazon Prime. The station produces original local programming including Tennessee is Talking, Retro 11, Steve Beverly's TV Classics, Channel 11 Checkup, Tennessee Writes, All About Home History, Spotlight 11, West TN PBS Specials, WLJT: In The Community, and Wayne Jerrolds' Songs of Yesterday. Educational offerings include PBS Kids programming, PBS Learning Media resources, and the annual Young Writers & Illustrators Contest. Membership benefits include PBS Passport streaming access. The station also publishes the monthly Spotlight Magazine (now ended) and maintains a Community Calendar for local events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• All About Home History: A show that explores the history and people of West Tennessee. ALL ABOUT HOME® is a registered trademark of West Tennessee Public Television Council, Inc.

Products and services

• WLJT-TV 11 Broadcast Television FCC-licensed, community, commercial-free television station broadcasting three channels: 11.1 (primary PBS), 11.2 (24/7 PBS KIDS), and 11.3 (Create how-to and travel channel), distributed over-the-air, on cable, and on satellite to 21 counties.
• West TN PBS Streaming Services Live signal and on-demand show streaming available through PBS App, westtnpbs.org, YouTube TV, Hulu LIVE, and Amazon Prime.
• Tennessee is Talking Local interview show highlighting changemakers, small business owners, activists, and diverse backgrounds across West Tennessee; hosted by Don McCorry, airs Thursdays at 8:30 pm.
• Retro 11 Classic West TN PBS productions featuring retro parades, music performances, and historic content from the station's archives; premieres Thursday nights at 9:00 pm.
• Steve Beverly's TV Classics Revisits beloved comedy and variety programs from the 1950s and 1960s, featuring segments from classic shows like The Honeymooners and The Dick Van Dyke Show; premieres Saturday nights at 6:00 pm.
• Channel 11 Checkup Monthly health news series hosted by Ginger Rowsey of Madison County Health, featuring the latest health news, updates, and special guests.
• Tennessee Writes Interview show featuring authors native to or living in Tennessee; hosted by Peter Noll; new episodes air Thursdays at 7:00 pm.
• All About Home History Explores the history and people of West Tennessee, featuring episodes on local historical events, reenactments, and interviews with local historians; ALL ABOUT HOME is a registered trademark.
• Spotlight 11 Highlights individuals from West Tennessee making a positive impact at home and across the United States.
• West TN PBS Specials Coverage of local festivals, parades, and events including the Strawberry Festival, Jackson International Food and Art Festival, and Christmas Parades.
• WLJT: In The Community Collection of presentations from clubs and meetings across West Tennessee, covering community events and local organizations.
• Wayne Jerrolds' Songs of Yesterday Bluegrass legend Wayne Jerrolds from Savannah, Tennessee, performs and reminisces about songs from yesterday; airs Saturday nights at 8 pm and 8:30 pm.
• Young Writers & Illustrators Contest Annual contest for young writers and illustrators, providing free books to children and families across West Tennessee as part of the station's educational outreach.
• PBS KIDS Programming Channel 24/7 PBS KIDS channel (11.2) and educational resources including PBS KIDS website, PBS For Parents, and PBS Learning Media for teachers.
• PBS Passport Membership Member benefit offering extended access to PBS content via the PBS video app for local PBS station members.
• Community Calendar Online calendar submission form for community events in West Tennessee, enabling local organizations to share events through the station.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21 counties served across West Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Mississippi
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational public broadcasting network providing programming, streaming platform (PBS App), Passport membership system, and coordination with local PBS stations across the country.
• University of Tennessee MartincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space and some utility services for WLJT headquarters office. Station originally established business offices and studio at UT Martin. Not an operating or funding relationship.
• Tennessee Public Television CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide coordination organization of Tennessee public broadcast television stations including WLJT (Jackson), WNPT (Nashville), WCTE (Cookeville), East TN PBS (Knoxville/Sneedville), WTCI (Chattanooga), and WKNO (Memphis). Coordinates state-wide public television projects including coverage of Tennessee Legislature, State of the State addresses, and educational programming with Tennessee Department of Education.
• Tennessee Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates with all Tennessee PBS stations to provide 2-hours each weekday of instructional and educational programming.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• East Tennessee PBS (WSJK / WETP): Knoxville/Sneedville-based Tennessee PBS member stations. Direct peer within the same state PBS network, sharing the Tennessee Public Television Council coordination, education programming initiatives, and nonprofit community-station governance model.
• WKNO (Memphis Community Television Foundation): Memphis-based Tennessee PBS member station. Closest geographic and operational peer — same state PBS network, similar nonprofit governance, comparable multi-channel PBS/PBS KIDS/Create broadcast model, and overlapping West Tennessee audience footprint.
• WTCI (Greater Chattanooga Public Television): Chattanooga-area Tennessee PBS member station. Operates the same community-licensed PBS station model, coordinates with WLJT through the Tennessee Public Television Council on statewide projects including legislative coverage and Tennessee DOE educational programming.
• WCTE (Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council): Tennessee PBS member station serving the Cookeville/Upper Cumberland region. Direct comparable as a community-licensed PBS affiliate in Tennessee with similar over-the-air and streaming distribution, original local programming, and education partnerships through the Tennessee Public Television Council.
• WNPT (Nashville Public Television): Nashville-area Tennessee PBS member station. Same Tennessee Public Television Council coordination body, comparable FCC-licensed community PBS station operations, similar state-level DOE partnership for instructional programming.

Broad incumbents

• NPR (National Public Radio): National noncommercial public media network. Comparable as the sister public media ecosystem to PBS with similar member-station, donation-driven, and federal funding model; provides parallel context for how public broadcasters navigate funding and digital distribution.
• WGBH (Boston): Major PBS-producing station in Boston. Comparable as an FCC-licensed community PBS station with a national content production footprint; illustrates a higher-revenue peer operating on the same nonprofit public television model.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): National public television network and the parent programming/distribution umbrella for WLJT. Comparable as the broader public broadcasting ecosystem in which WLJT operates, providing national programming, the PBS App streaming platform, and Passport membership infrastructure.
• WNET (New York): New York metro PBS member station. Comparable as a large community-licensed PBS station operating multiple channels, original programming, and digital distribution under a nonprofit governing council.

Others

• Tennessee Public Television Council: Statewide coordination organization for Tennessee's public television stations including WLJT. Acts as the operational peer-network through which WLJT coordinates legislative coverage, Tennessee DOE educational programming, and joint fundraising initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCR8tsUY_nMl6IQ5rsVXskpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/WLJTDT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wljt-dt
• Instagraminstagram.com/westtnpbs
• TikToktiktok.com/@west.tn.pbs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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