Seattle’s Cascade PBS unveils Local Community, a technology platform that builds streaming apps for stations
Seattle’s Cascade PBS has spun off its broadcast app technology into an independent company called Local Public, which now builds connected TV and mobile apps for public media stations across the country.
The goal is to give local PBS stations around the country their own curated, channel-selected broadcast programming — along with monetization tools and audience data — as an alternative to a one-size-fits-all national program.
The Local Community was originally created within Cascade PBS (KCTS-TV channel 9) to develop programming for that station, which serves Western Washington and part of British Columbia. Supported by 10 Founding Partner channels, the Local Streaming Initiative (LSI) was established to expand the platform to offer channels across the country.
On July 1, the Local Community was launched as a public benefit organization. Cascade PBS owns 100% of Local Community, but is expected to invest in and own a consortium of other PBS stations in the near future.
In a blog post announcing the launch, Public Place CEO Kevin Colligan wrote that the company aims to build “a growing coalition of independent media organizations that work together while staying focused on their communities.”
Eighteen stations currently use Local Public, according to Cascade PBS, including Arizona PBS (Phoenix), Houston Public Media, OPB (Oregon), Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver), Vegas PBS, WETA (Washington, DC), WHYY (Philadelphia), WQED (Pittsburgh), and others.
Colligan framed the launch against the backdrop of media consolidation, arguing that a shrinking number of corporations increasingly control what Americans watch and read, while local newsrooms have been burned and replaced by centralized programs.
He also pointed to the rise of less powerful AI-generated content, which is a further threat to real local journalism and storytelling – which he says makes honest, community-focused public media more important, not less.
“We bring an original perspective to the community media’s longstanding tradition of community service,” Colligan wrote. “We’re building technology that allows channels to move faster, collaborate more effectively, and reach audiences wherever they are.”
Local community apps currently work on 10 platforms, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, LG and Samsung smart TVs, iPhone, Android and web video portal. The integration of NPR, radio and podcast is in development and is expected to launch in fiscal year 2027.
The apps work with a centralized content management system, which allows channels to publish their programs, create carousels with featured content and pull real-time viewership statistics. Channels can also message members and those who want to donate directly within the app. The platform fully supports PBS Passport, a broadcast benefit for recurring contributors, and PBS Media Manager, which program stations use to manage and distribute video.
TheDesk.net reported that Sacramento’s KVIE has already relaunched its Live Local Public broadcast program as KVIE Plus (stylized KVIE+), which offers free access to the station’s full broadcast lineup with syndication of local and syndicated shows, movies and documentaries. Denver’s KRMA is also relaunching its connected TV program through the platform as well
Local Community prices are determined by channel size, based on how many Passport-eligible members the channel has at signup. Small stations (fewer than 15,000 members), for example, pay annual fees of between $8,000 and $60,000.
