Tupelo Honey

What Tupelo Honey does

Tupelo Honey, operating through Tupelo Media Group, LLC, is a US-based full-service video production company founded in 1996 by Cary Glotzer and currently owned by Gray Television (NYSE: GTN). The company produces live sports broadcasts, original programming, music specials, live entertainment, and branded entertainment for major broadcast networks (ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Turner Sports, NFL Network), streaming platforms (ESPN+, SportsGrid, YES Network FAST), and A-list consumer brands (American Express, Samsung, Gatorade, Budweiser, Ford, Under Armour, Warner Brothers). It serves sports leagues including the Professional Fighters League, The Basketball Tournament, American Cornhole League, Major League Rugby, and the Missouri Valley Conference, delivering more than 800 live sports and entertainment shows per year.

The company's core technical platform is a Remote Integration Model (REMI) production workflow anchored at a state-of-the-art Indianapolis facility featuring Ross and Evertz IP-based infrastructure with three control rooms and IP connectivity from all major providers. This architecture allows Tupelo to manage multiple simultaneous remote productions (such as 63 TBT games in 15 days) with reduced on-site footprint, and was a critical capability during COVID-era bubble sports productions. Tupelo also creates and distributes original series including the nationally-syndicated music show THE SONG (150+ TV markets, 80%+ of US households) and BEAT THE ODDS, a sports betting and entertainment series.

Tupelo Honey generates revenue primarily through B2B professional services contracts for live sports production, original programming development, and branded entertainment campaigns, with supplementary licensing/syndication economics for content distributed via Gray Television's 114-market station footprint and third-party FAST and cable channels. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed. The company's go-to-market is enterprise-focused, with senior relationships at league commissioner and network executive levels. Tupelo was acquired by Raycom Media in 2012, which was itself acquired by Gray Television in 2019; in 2022, Gray consolidated Tupelo with minority investments in Swirl Films, World Chase Tag, Third Rail West, and Triple B Media under the Tupelo Media Group umbrella.

Name

Tupelo Honey

Legal name

Tupelo Media Group, LLC

Website

https://tupelohoney.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tupelo Honey is a Gray Television-owned full-service video production company producing 800+ live sports, entertainment, and branded content shows annually for ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and major sports leagues from its Indianapolis REMI production facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Sports and Entertainment Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Highlights, Clips & VOD Libraries (MPAKAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music/Audio-Visual Streaming Channels (Concerts, Music Video Channels) (MPABAHAL), International Sports Broadcasters & Rights Channels (MPABAEAE)

Keywords

• Live sports production
• Remote broadcast production
• Branded entertainment content
• Original television programming
• REMI production services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Live Sports Production: Produces hundreds of live sports events annually for networks including ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Turner Sports, NFL Network, ACC Network, SEC Network. Covers NFL, MLS, PLL, PFL, TBT, ACL, MLR, and collegiate sports.
2. Original Programming: Creates, develops, and produces original programming for national syndication including live concerts for Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other digital platforms. Reality television, documentaries, music specials, award shows.
3. Branded Entertainment: Develops and produces award-winning branded entertainment for A-list brands including American Express, Samsung, Gatorade, Budweiser, Warner Brothers, Ford, Under Armour.
4. Sports Betting Content: Produces 'BEAT THE ODDS' sports betting and entertainment series syndicated to Gray Television stations, YES Network, and SportsGrid. Weekly 30-minute series plus special event coverage.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tupelo Honey is a full-service video production company producing live network broadcasts, live streams, REMI (Remote Integration) video productions, documentaries, reality programming, commercials, branded entertainment, promos, and digital content. The company produces more than 800 live sports and entertainment shows per year for clients including ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Turner Sports, NFL Network, major sports leagues (NFL, MLS, PFL, PLL, TBT, ACL, MLR), collegiate conferences (Missouri Valley Conference, ACC, SEC), and A-list consumer brands (American Express, Samsung, Gatorade, Budweiser, Ford, Under Armour).

Product overview

Tupelo Honey is a full-service video production company with over 25 years of experience in sports, music, and entertainment. One of the nation's largest independent production companies, it operates as part of Gray Television's Tupelo Media Group. The company produces live network broadcasts, live streams, REMI (Remote Integration) video productions, documentaries, reality programming, commercials, branded entertainment, promos, and digital content—producing over 800 live sports and entertainment shows per year. The core portfolio includes Live Sports Production (NFL, MLS, NCAA, Professional Fighters League, American Cornhole League, Major League Rugby, The Basketball Tournament), Live Entertainment (concerts and music events for global artists), Original Programming (reality TV, documentaries, music specials, award shows across TV/OTT/VOD/FAST channels), and Branded Entertainment (for clients including Samsung, Gatorade, Budweiser, Ford, Under Armour). Key named series include BEAT THE ODDS (sports betting entertainment), World Chase Tag (parkour competition), and THE SONG (music performance series). The company leverages REMI production technology from its Indianapolis facility to deliver cost-effective remote broadcasts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Sports Production Produces hundreds of live sports events annually for networks including ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Turner Sports, NFL Network, ACC Network, SEC Network. Clients include NFL Teams, NCAA, Professional Fighters League, The Basketball Tournament, American Cornhole League, Major League Rugby, and Missouri Valley Conference.
• Live Entertainment Production Creates live entertainment content across musical genres, working with globally-recognized artists like Coldplay, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Rob Thomas, Kid Rock, Jewel, Lil Wayne, and Foo Fighters. Programming includes syndicated series, network music specials, pay-per-view events, live music festivals, and live streaming on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and other digital platforms.
• Original Programming Creates original television content across genres including reality television, documentary, music, lifestyle, talk shows, benefit concerts, and award shows. Content distributed via TV, OTT, VOD, and FAST channels.
• Branded Entertainment Develops and produces award-winning branded entertainment for A-list brands including American Express, Samsung, Gatorade, Budweiser, Warner Brothers, Ford, and Under Armour.
• BEAT THE ODDS Emmy Award-winning nationally syndicated sports betting and entertainment television series produced by Tupelo Media Group and KVVU FOX5. Features expert gambling analysis, team matchups, injuries, odds, moneylines, and predictions. Syndicated across Gray Television stations, YES Network, and SportsGrid FAST Channel.
• World Chase Tag (WCT) Parkour-based competition series combining dynamic athleticism with the game of Tag. Invented by Christian and Damien Devaux in the UK in 2016. Tupelo Honey serves as production services company and holds capital investment in the partnership with NBC Sports Group. Has amassed 350+ million organic online views and 1.5M+ social media subscribers.
• THE SONG
• Remote Integration (REMI) Production Services Remote Integration production services from the Indianapolis facility featuring three control rooms and connectivity from all major IP providers. Enables live broadcast production with minimal on-site crew. Used for The Basketball Tournament, American Cornhole League, PLL Championship Series, and other live sports events.
• Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Production Multi-year agreement to produce and distribute MVC men's and women's basketball regular-season games and State Farm MVC Men's Basketball Tournament contests. Content distributed via 22 Gray Media markets in six states plus ESPN+ simulcast.
• The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Production

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Missouri Valley ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2024Multi-year agreement to produce and distribute MVC men's and women's basketball regular-season games and Arch Madness tournament contests beginning 2024-25. Tupelo has produced MVC digital package since 2007.
• SportsGridcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2024SportsGrid FAST Channel partnership for national syndication of five sports betting specials as part of 'BEAT THE ODDS' series. SportsGrid provides statistical and data commentary with real-time comprehensive data feeds.
• KVVU FOX5coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 February 2022Las Vegas television station owned by Gray Television. KVVU clears BEAT THE ODDS pilot episode and content across Gray's owned and operated stations reaching approximately one quarter of US television households.
• NBC Sports GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2020NBC Sports Group has exclusive US distribution rights for World Chase Tag. Tupelo Honey serves as the production services company for the partnership. Gray Television made a capital investment in World Chase Tag in July 2020.
• Swirl FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Gray Television invested in Swirl Films, a leading urban production company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Part of Gray's production family.
• Gray TelevisionflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGray Television (NYSE: GTN) is the parent company of Tupelo Honey. Gray is the largest owner of top-rated local television stations in the US with 114 markets reaching 36% of US television households. Gray provides distribution through its station portfolio and capital support for Tupelo's production facilities.
• World Chase TagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Chase Tag (WCT) is a parkour athletic competition invented by brothers Christian and Damien Devaux in the U.K. in 2016. Gray Television made a capital investment in WCT in July 2020. WCT has 350+ million organic online views and 1.5M+ social media subscribers.
• Christian DevauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder and CEO of World Chase Tag. Partnership enables production and global expansion of WCT competitions.
• SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for BEAT THE ODDS sports betting specials. Provides expert gambling analysis and sports betting perspective.
• Oswald Entertainment GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-packaged and co-produced THE SONG music series with Tupelo Honey. Executive producer Marc Oswald created the show.
• ESPNcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor network partner for TBT, ACL, college football and basketball, and other sports productions. ESPN distributes Tupelo content nationally and internationally to 197+ countries.
• CBS SportscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for various sports productions including World Games coverage.
• Turner SportscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for various sports productions.
• NFL NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for NFL coverage and NFL Flag initiative with live games from Super Bowl and NFL Draft.
• Professional Fighters LeaguecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive production company for PFL (formerly World Series of Fighting). Produces live MMA events for NBC Sports and other platforms.
• Premiere Lacrosse LeaguecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPLL selected Tupelo to package its contests for NBC Sports. Produced PLL Championship Series - 20 games in 14 days - from Salt Lake City bubble.
• The Basketball TournamentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTBT selected Tupelo for onsite resources and remote production. Long-standing relationship dating to first event in 2014. Produced 63 games in 15 days for 2023 tournament.
• American Cornhole LeaguecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorACL selected Tupelo to package national broadcasts for ESPN platforms. ACL Pro Invitational Qualifiers used as proving ground for remote production capabilities.
• Major League RugbycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMLR selected Tupelo to package national broadcasts. Relationship expanded to include local production from multiple markets alongside national telecasts.
• Paragon Marketing GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTapped Tupelo to expand ESPN Showcase content with high school games via REMI and on-site productions.
• Raycom SportsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company under Gray Television. Produces high volume of original and exclusive sports content.
• Power Nation StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company under Gray Television. Full-service television marketing and media company specializing in automotive tech content.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NEP Group: NEP Group is the world's largest outsourced production partner for sports and entertainment, operating mobile units and REMI facilities globally. It is the most direct comparable to Tupelo Honey given its shared focus on live broadcast production services for major US sports networks.
• Game Creek Video: Game Creek Video is a leading US mobile-production and integration services provider serving NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, and major network customers. Directly comparable to Tupelo Honey on high-end live event production and blue-chip sports clients.
• Dome Productions: Dome Productions is a North American mobile and REMI production services provider owned by Rogers and Bell Media. Comparable to Tupelo Honey in remote-integration production capabilities and live sports coverage for major broadcasters.
• TPC (Television Production Company): TPC is a Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary providing live sports production for regional sports networks and college conferences. Similar to Tupelo Honey in its broadcast-affiliated structure and college-sports production focus.
• Raycom Sports: Raycom Sports is Tupelo Honey's sister company under Gray Television, producing ACC and SEC college sports content. Directly comparable given shared parent, REMI production expertise, and collegiate conference relationships.

Broad incumbents

• NFL Films: NFL Films is the in-house production arm of the NFL, producing league-owned documentary, highlight, and original programming content. Comparable to Tupelo Honey in sports production excellence and NFL-related programming work.
• IMG (Endeavor): IMG, part of Endeavor Group, is a global sports and entertainment production and media-rights company. Comparable to Tupelo Honey in producing live events, managing sports rights, and producing original sports content for global distribution.

Emerging players

• Whistle Sports: Whistle Sports is a digital sports media company producing short-form content for social platforms and streaming services. Comparable to Tupelo Honey in producing sports content for digital channels like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Stadium (stadium.com): Stadium is a multi-platform sports network producing and aggregating live and original sports content. Comparable to Tupelo Honey in producing original sports programming and distributing across digital and broadcast channels.

Others

• WWE Studios: WWE Studios produces scripted and unscripted content tied to sports entertainment IP. Adjacent to Tupelo Honey in entertainment production services and branded content creation, though focused on WWE-owned IP.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TupeloHoney1996

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tupelo Honey