Empowering local public media.
We help local PBS stations connect with their communities through modern streaming experiences, featuring on-demand video, live channels, digital fundraising and, soon, content distribution and audience engagement tools. All from a single platform.
People need reliable, on-demand access to quality independent programming they can rely on in a rapidly evolving media environment. We build the technology and partnerships to fulfill that need, empowering local public media providers to focus on content, connection, and community.Our mission
More than a technology provider.
Local Public combines the trusted local relationships of PBS stations with the convenience and reach of today's digital platforms, so stations can deliver local stories, educational content, cultural programming, events and community services wherever audiences choose to watch.
Streaming apps
Station-branded, locally curated apps with on-demand video and live channels across ten platforms and counting.
Digital fundraising
Full PBS Passport and Media Manager integration, with donor tools that turn viewers into members.
Data and insights
Near real-time first-party data feeds, Google Analytics tagging, and a starter pack of reports for stations at any level of data maturity.
Held by the system, not owned by one entity.
Local Public is building a nationwide network for local public media, helping stations grow their audiences, generate new revenue, strengthen donor relationships and expand their community impact.
Mission-first
We're a public benefit corporation: the easiest way to characterize it is a for-profit entity with a nonprofit mission.
Held by the system
Local Public should be held by a coalition of independent public media organizations (stations, programming partners and more), not owned by just one entity.
Built together
Station-led working groups on Programming, Data, Marketing and Project Management meet regularly and relay feature requests straight to our product team.
From one station's apps to a national platform.
Local Public was created and incubated within Cascade PBS, the Seattle-based station serving the Cascadia region in the U.S. and Canada. We originally built apps for our own station. Then, supported by ten Founding Sponsor partner stations, we launched the Local Streaming Initiative, which expanded our platform to serve stations nationwide.
We chose the public benefit corporation structure because it best reflects the mission-centric work of our client base, with the ability to take investment from fellow PBS stations. It is our view that Local Public should be held by the system, and not owned by just one entity.
- 2020
Cascade PBS launches local apps
Station-branded apps on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android, delivering twice the Passport revenue of the localized PBS App.
- 2025
The Local Streaming Initiative
Ten Founding Sponsor stations back a multi-station platform, and Local Public apps go live in markets across the country.
- July 1, 2026
Local Public, PBC
We launch as a separate company, a public benefit corporation, with plans to be co-owned by a coalition of PBS stations.
- Today
20+ markets and growing
Our biggest app release yet is rolling out, with a redesigned experience on phones, tablets and TVs. See what's new →
Ten platforms. One fee.
Station-branded and curated apps across all major streaming devices, mobile platforms, smart TVs and any browser on the web.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns and operates Local Public?
Local Public became an independent public benefit company (PBC) on July 1, 2026, spinning off from parent company Cascade PBS. We expect to be co-owned by a coalition of PBS stations in the near future.
Does Local Public work with PBS Passport and Media Manager?
Yes. Apps are fully integrated with PBS Media Manager and Passport. We import PBS programming data as available, then enrich metadata courtesy of The Programming Service and other programming partners. Metadata is human-powered and added by programmers: 60 additional genres (mystery, thriller, comedy), 30+ vibes (cozy, heart-warming, dark), program type (episodic series, non-episodic series, movie, news) and production locale.
Does Local Public work with NPR services and infrastructure?
We are starting to integrate radio and podcast programming into our apps. Our dual-licensee stations will be able to serve NPR programming, PBS, local and third-party programming from one unified app.
What platforms are covered?
We currently offer apps on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, Samsung smart TV, LG smart TV, iOS, Android and the web. One fee covers all platforms. We also offer a more affordable Light tier of service, which covers Roku, iOS, Android and the web. For the technical folks: we intentionally chose a shared React Native codebase for all apps (except Roku) to make it easier to expand while keeping features consistent across platforms.
What staff size is needed to maintain local apps?
We've designed Local Public apps to work well for stations of all sizes. Built-in metadata and autopilot options make for a relatively easy lift for small staffs, and our CMS, with role-based permissions, makes it easy for teams to collaborate. Stations can run a well-curated app with a single non-technical person who may have other duties. Our team is working on a playbook based on best practices developed by our coalition; look for that in FY27.
Can stations integrate Local Public with their existing websites?
Yes. We offer full API access, which stations can use to build custom streaming integrations with their websites or other apps (subject to PBS rules). We'd also love to work with stations on integrations with other platforms (Grove, Drupal, WordPress and more).
What sort of data is available?
Local Public offers near real-time feeds of first-party data that is not fully available on the PBS App. With a station's permission, we also deliver data in VPPA format to CDP for apples-to-apples comparisons with PBS App performance. We tag apps with the station's Google Analytics and offer a starter pack of reports, so stations at every level of data maturity can get the insights they need. Additional data services are available on request.
What kind of support is available?
Local Public offers training and documentation, onboarding and uptime guarantees. Our team is available during West Coast working hours via Slack, email and telephone. We also have an active coalition of station users who share ideas, shortcuts and programming tips in monthly cohort meetings and Slack channels.
Does Local Public encourage cross-station knowledge sharing?
Absolutely. Collaboration is one of the core benefits of the platform. Our CMS lets stations share carousel ideas that can be copied and customized for local audiences in a few clicks. Beyond the tech, station-led working groups on Programming, Data, Marketing and Project Management (with a Revenue group launching soon) meet regularly to share best practices, develop shared documentation and relay feature requests to our product team.
Does Local Public require a long-term commitment?
No. We offer annual subscriptions with optional renewals. After one year, any station can take their front-end app code and data and strike out on their own. (Apps would require a back-end CMS.)
Why should my station trust Local Public to deliver?
Cascade PBS has run local apps since 2020, and despite being on fewer platforms for a shorter time, those apps delivered twice as much Passport revenue as the localized PBS App. We launched our multi-station platform in 2025 and serve 20+ markets and growing. Our CEO Kevin Colligan previously designed and built large-scale, locally curated platforms for Major League Baseball Advanced Media and the Grammy Awards. Our in-house tech team is backed by a CTO who designed the Bally Sports and Sinclair streaming infrastructure, and our primary development partner Oxagile brings 20+ years of experience building video streaming apps. We also partner with Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Recombee. If your station is considering joining, we encourage you to reach out to our current clients about their experience.
What does it cost?
See our Pricing page for current pricing, which is guaranteed not to increase for three years (decreases are possible). We evaluate our pricing model regularly and are always looking for ways to make services more affordable for stations.