Jam Media
JAM Media is an Irish-founded children's animation studio producing award-winning animated and live-action content for preschool and 6-11 year-old audiences, with global broadcast distribution and a Belfast production-services facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Jam Media does
JAM Media is a privately held children's animation studio founded in 2002 in Dublin, Ireland by co-founders John Rice, Alan Shannon, and Mark Cumberton. The studio develops, produces, and licenses original animated and live-action content targeted primarily at preschool and 6-11 year-old audiences, with a content catalog that includes flagship properties such as Roy, Baby Jake, Tilly & Friends, Becca's Bunch, BeddyByes, Nova Jones, Jessy and Nessy, Zig and Zag, and PICME. The studio operates two integrated business lines from offices in Dublin (headquarters) and Belfast (production services), using industry-standard 2D and 3D animation, live-action/animation hybrid production, and VFX/compositing tools (Adobe Animate, Toon Boom Harmony, Maya, Nuke, After Effects), with one proprietary technology called "Head-Hunter" that enables viewer-personalized episodes in PICME.
The studio monetizes through two channels: (1) IP licensing and royalty income from original productions developed in-house and licensed to broadcasters and streaming platforms, with distribution across BBC (CBeebies, CBBC), RTÉ, Amazon Prime Video, Nickelodeon (Nick Jr.), Universal Kids, Discovery Kids, CBC, and 25+ additional European public broadcasters; and (2) co-production and animation services revenue from the Belfast facility, a 120+ seat studio capable of running three concurrent productions and leveraging Irish (up to 32%) and UK (up to 25%) tax credits. Pricing is undisclosed and negotiated individually with each broadcaster and partner, consistent with a B2B project-based commissioning model.
The company remains founder-owned with no disclosed external funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investors. Beyond production, JAM Media operates Animation Dingle, an annual animation festival it founded in Ireland that connects industry professionals and decision makers, and it maintains an active development pipeline of new series concepts. The broader business is anchored on institutional financing relationships with Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and the EU MEDIA Programme (Creative Europe), and it has won international recognition including a BAFTA for Best Children's Drama (Roy, 2012), the Cartoon Tribute European Producer of the Year (2012), a Kidscreen Award, multiple IFTAs, and festival wins at Cartoon Forum, Galway Film Fleadh, and Cartoons on the Bay.
Jam Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jam Media
- Legal name
- JAM Media Ltd.
- Website
- https://jammedia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- JAM Media is an Irish-founded children's animation studio producing award-winning animated and live-action content for preschool and 6-11 year-old audiences, with global broadcast distribution and a Belfast production-services facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jam Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animated Children's Television Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Kids & Preschool Animation Production (MPADACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Live-Action Kids & Family Production (MPADABAF)
Keywords
Where Jam Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Jam Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- IP Licensing and Production: JAM Media develops and produces original intellectual properties (animated and live-action series) for children and preschool audiences. Revenue is generated through licensing deals with broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international distribution.
- Co-Production Services: Production service facility in Belfast offering animation and VFX services to international partners. Studio capacity up to 120+ seats with ability to host up to three productions simultaneously. Access to UK (up to 25%) and Irish (up to 32%) tax credits.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Jam Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jam Media develops, produces, and licenses original animated and live-action children's television series for preschool and 6-11 age audiences, distributing globally through broadcasters and streaming platforms such as BBC, RTÉ, Amazon Studios, and Nickelodeon. The company also provides animation and VFX production services through its Belfast studio, with capacity for up to 120+ seats and access to Irish and UK tax incentives, and presents Animation Dingle, an annual animation festival in Ireland.
Product overview
JAM Media is an animation studio with operations in both Ireland and the United Kingdom that creates multi-award winning animated and live-action content for children's and pre-school audiences. The company operates two integrated business lines: (1) proprietary intellectual properties developed and produced in-house, including flagship series like BeddyByes (3D CG animated preschool bedtime series), Nova Jones (live-action series for older children), Jessy and Nessy (preschool series), Becca's Bunch, Little Roy, Tilly & Friends, Baby Jake, Roy, Funky Fables, PICME (personalized content), Zog Casts, The Roy Files, and Zig & Zag; and (2) production services offered through its Belfast studio, providing 2D animation, VFX, and related production services to international partners. The company also presents Animation Dingle, an annual animation festival. JAM Media's shows span multiple formats including pure 2D animation, 3D CG animation, live-action/animation hybrids, and interactive personalized content using proprietary Head-Hunter Technology. The company maintains distribution partnerships with broadcasters including BBC iPlayer, RTÉ, Amazon Studios, Nickelodeon, and CBeebies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Animation Dingle: An animation festival created by JAM Media for students, celebrating the best of animation with the west of Ireland as backdrop.
Products and services
- BeddyByes
Companies that use Jam Media
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Jam Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Jam Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BBC (CBeebies, CBBC)coreMajor broadcast partner for multiple JAM Media productions including Roy, Tilly & Friends, Baby Jake, BeddyByes, Nova Jones, and Zig & Zag. CBeebies targets preschool audiences while CBBC serves older children.
- RTÉcoreIrish national broadcaster and co-production partner. Content available on RTÉ Player. RTÉ also co-funded The Wiremen through the Frameworks scheme.
- Amazon StudioscoreProduction partner and streaming distributor for Jessy & Nessy (40 x 11' preschool series). Content available on Amazon Prime Video platforms.
- Nickelodeon (Nick Jr.)coreGlobal broadcast partner for Becca's Bunch and other JAM Media productions targeting preschool audiences.
- Universal KidscoreUS broadcast partner for JAM Media content through NBCUniversal's children's programming block.
- Discovery KidscoreLatin American broadcast partner for JAM Media preschool content.
- CBC KidscoreCanadian broadcast partner for children's programming.
- Double ZcoreCo-production partner for Zig & Zag animated sitcom, created by Ciarán Morrison and Mick O'Hara.
- FlickerpixcoreCo-production partner for Zig & Zag animated sitcom.
- Walker Books ProductionscoreCo-production partner for Tilly & Friends, based on the books by Polly Dunbar. Executive producer Helen McAleer from Walker Books.
- Darrell MacQueencoreCo-production partner for Baby Jake preschool series.
- ABC AustraliaminorAustralian broadcast partner for children's content.
- France TélévisionsminorFrench national broadcaster partner.
- DreamWorksminorAnimation studio partnership for content distribution.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jam Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aardman Animations: Aardman is a UK-based animation studio producing multi-award-winning children's content (Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit) for global broadcasters. It is a direct peer given similar B2B model, BBC and global broadcaster relationships, hybrid stop-motion/animated children's catalog, and production services capabilities.
- Brown Bag Films: Brown Bag Films is an Irish animation studio (now part of 9 Story Media Group) producing children's animated series like Doc McStuffins and Octonauts. It is a direct peer given shared Irish origin, Dublin headquarters, preschool/children's content focus, and global broadcaster licensing model.
- Sixteen South: Sixteen South is a Northern Ireland-based animation studio producing children's content including Lily's Driftwood Bay (broadcast on BBC and Nick Jr.). It is a direct peer given shared Belfast geographic base, similar scale, preschool animated content focus, and global broadcaster licensing model.
- Kavaleer Productions: Kavaleer Productions is an Irish animation studio producing children's animated series such as Claude, Wussywat the Clumsy Cat, and Boo & Baa. It is a direct peer given Irish origin, similar indie scale, children's animated content focus, and broadcaster licensing model.
- Studio Liddell: Studio Liddell is an Irish animation studio producing children's animated content with broadcast distribution. It is a direct peer given shared Irish origin, indie scale, and preschool/children's animated series focus with global broadcaster licensing.
- Lupus Films: Lupus Films is a UK-based animation studio producing multi-award-winning children's content including The Snowman and Snowdog, Ethel & Ernest, and This Beautiful Fantastic. It is a direct peer given comparable indie scale, BAFTA-recognized children's content, and global broadcaster distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- WildBrain: WildBrain is a Canadian children's entertainment company managing large IP libraries (Peppa Pig, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake) and operating a global children's YouTube network. It is a broad incumbent overlapping with JAM Media in preschool content licensing and global distribution, but at much larger scale with merchandising depth.
- Hit Entertainment: Hit Entertainment (now part of Mattel) is a British entertainment company managing preschool IP like Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, and Fireman Sam. It is a broad incumbent overlapping with JAM Media in preschool content production and licensing, but operates at franchise scale with major merchandise rights.
- Entertainment One (eOne): Entertainment One is a major entertainment company (acquired by Hasbro) producing and distributing family and children's content including Peppa Pig and PJ Masks. It is a broad incumbent comparable in children's content distribution but with significantly larger portfolio and corporate backing.
Regional players
- Mondo TV: Mondo TV is an Italian animation production and distribution company producing children's animated series including Sylvanian Families and YooHoo & Friends. It is a regional peer given comparable independent children's animation production model, though primarily serving European and Mediterranean markets.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jam Media social profiles
Digital presenceJam Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jam Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Jam Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jam Media 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 Jam Media
What does Jam Media do?
Jam Media develops, produces, and licenses original animated and live-action children's television series for preschool and 6-11 age audiences, distributing globally through broadcasters and streaming platforms such as BBC, RTÉ, Amazon Studios, and Nickelodeon. The company also provides animation and VFX production services through its Belfast studio, with capacity for up to 120+ seats and access to Irish and UK tax incentives, and presents Animation Dingle, an annual animation festival in Ireland.
Is Jam Media a public or private company?
Jam Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Jam Media founded?
Jam Media was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Jam Media based?
Jam Media is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Jam Media make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. IP Licensing and Production is the primary driver. The others are co-Production Services.
Who are Jam Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aardman Animations, Brown Bag Films, Sixteen South, Kavaleer Productions, Studio Liddell and Lupus Films. Broad incumbents are WildBrain, Hit Entertainment and Entertainment One (eOne). Mondo TV is listed as a regional player.
Does Jam Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jam Media.
What industry is Jam Media in?
Jam Media's product category is Animated Children's Television Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAJ, Kids & Preschool Animation Production, with a secondary code of MPADABAF, Live-Action Kids & Family Production. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.