What Big Fish Entertainment does

Big Fish Entertainment is a New York-based full-service content production company founded by Dan Cesareo in 2006 that creates visually driven, unscripted programming for major cable networks and streaming platforms. The company produces reality docuseries (Black Ink Crew franchise, Love & Hip Hop franchise), live documentary programming (Live PD, Live Rescue, Court Night Live), formatted competition and lifestyle shows (America's Top Dog, Kitchen Crash, Amy Schumer Learns to Cook), and long-form documentary series (Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan, History's Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan). Core production technology centers on live multi-camera broadcasting infrastructure, dramatic recreations using visual effects, and integrated social-media workflows that support real-time broadcast formats such as Live PD's multi-city police ride-along feeds.\n\nThe company's business model is B2B sales-led: Big Fish develops proprietary show concepts and pitches them to networks, then earns production fees and licensing royalties under multi-season contracts. Customer concentration is deliberately diversified across at least a dozen buyers including A&E, VH1, TLC, WeTV, MTV, Lifetime, Food Network, History Channel, Travel Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Discovery, and Amazon Prime Video. Revenue streams include production fees, development deals, content licensing, and branded/digital content work for clients such as the Gates Foundation. Pricing is negotiated per-project rather than disclosed publicly.\n\nSince 2018, Big Fish has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGM following the conglomerate's undisclosed acquisition. The company continues to operate under its own brand with Dan Cesareo remaining as president, reporting to MGM unscripted TV head Barry Poznick. The acquisition provided access to MGM's capital base, distribution leverage through MGM Television (under Mark Burnett), and operational synergies with sister unscripted production banners One Three Media and Evolution Media.

Name

Big Fish Entertainment

Legal name

Big Fish Entertainment

Website

https://bigfishusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Big Fish Entertainment is a New York-based unscripted television production company founded in 2006 that creates reality docuseries, live documentary programming, and formatted shows for major cable networks and streaming platforms including A&E, VH1, TLC, and Amazon Prime Video.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

General Entertainment Cable Networks (MPABAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)

Keywords

• Unscripted television production
• Reality TV programming
• Documentary series production
• Live broadcast content
• Entertainment content licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Television Production Contracts: Production fees and licensing revenue from creating unscripted programming for television networks including A&E, VH1, TLC, WeTV, MTV, Lifetime, and others. Revenue derived from development deals, production fees, and content licensing.
2. Streaming Platform Content: Production of original docuseries and documentary content for streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, generating production fees and potential licensing royalties.
3. Branded and Digital Content: Creation of branded programming and digital content for broadcast, new media, and beyond including campaigns like Under the Bulb for .CO brand and Gates Foundation Reality PD public schools project.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Big Fish Entertainment is a full-service content production company that develops and produces unscripted television programming — including reality docuseries, live documentary series, formatted lifestyle shows, and historical documentaries — for major cable networks (A&E, VH1, TLC, Lifetime, MTV, WeTV, Food Network, Travel Channel) and streaming platforms (Amazon Prime Video). The company creates proprietary content concepts and pitches them to networks, then delivers full-service production from development through broadcast. It also produces branded and digital content campaigns for non-network clients.

Product overview

Big Fish Entertainment is a full-service content production company that creates visually-driven reality, branded, and formatted programming for broadcast and new media. The company operates as a portfolio of distinct TV series and docuseries rather than a unified software product or platform. Its core offerings span multiple genres including reality docuseries (Black Ink Crew franchise, Love & Hip Hop franchise), live documentary programming (Live PD, On Patrol: Live), food and lifestyle programming (DC Cupcakes, Amy Schumer Learns to Cook, Kitchen Crash), competition shows (America's Top Dog, How Far Is Tattoo Far?), and documentary series (Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan, Regular Heroes). The company was founded by Dan Cesareo in 2006 and acquired by MGM in 2018, now operating as MGM's Big Fish Entertainment. Programming is produced for major networks including A&E, VH1, TLC, Lifetime, Food Network, MTV, Amazon Prime, and Travel Channel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live PD Weekly live documentary series produced for A&E that takes viewers inside the country's busiest police departments and the communities they patrol in real time, featuring dash cams, fixed rig and handheld cameras across multiple police forces on a typical Friday night, with in-studio host commentary and a live social media component.
• Black Ink Crew: New York VH1 reality series featuring the only black-operated tattoo parlor in New York City, located in Harlem on 113th and Lenox Avenue, serving as a magnet for hip-hop stars, athletes, and celebrities.
• Black Ink Crew: Chicago VH1 reality docuseries spin-off of Black Ink Crew: New York set in Chicago, following tattoo artists and shop operations in the Chicago market.
• Black Ink Crew: Compton VH1 reality docuseries spin-off of the Black Ink Crew franchise set in Compton, California, following tattoo shop operations and the personal lives of artists in that market.
• Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta VH1 docuseries following Atlanta's hip-hop scene, part of the broader Love & Hip Hop franchise produced in partnership with Monami Entertainment.
• Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood VH1 docuseries following Hollywood's hip-hop scene, part of the broader Love & Hip Hop franchise.
• Love & Hip Hop: Miami VH1 docuseries following Miami's hip-hop scene, produced as part of the Love & Hip Hop franchise in partnership with Monami Entertainment.
• Hustle & Soul WE tv docuseries following owner and head chef Lawrence Page at Brooklyn's Pink Tea Cup restaurant on his quest to make it the first soul food restaurant to earn a Michelin Star.
• Regular Heroes Amazon Prime Video docuseries highlighting everyday people making an impact during the COVID-19 crisis, produced in association with Alicia Keys.
• Seeking Brother Husband TLC series following four polyandrous relationships and their quests to add additional husbands into their families.
• Live PD Presents: Women on Patrol Lifetime series following female law enforcement officers from departments in Jackson (WY), Wilmington (NC), Tempe (AZ) and Stockton (CA), spun off from the Live PD franchise.
• How Far Is Tattoo Far? MTV series where relationships are tested by having pairs design tattoos for each other that won't be revealed until after being permanently inked, hosted by Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi and Nico Tortorella.
• Date Night Live Lifetime series where single people endure blind dates played out in real time, hosted by Michelle Collins.
• America's Top Dog A&E series where police K-9 dogs compete against civilian dogs in obstacle courses testing speed, agility, and tracking capabilities, hosted by Curt Menefee.
• History's Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan History Channel documentary series using dramatic recreations, dynamic storytelling, and cutting-edge visual effects to examine high-stakes heist attempts throughout history, hosted by Pierce Brosnan who is embedded into each heist through state-of-the-art technology.
• History's Greatest Mysteries History Channel one-hour documentary series hosted and narrated by Laurence Fishburne that examines the top theories surrounding the world's most enigmatic unsolved mysteries, featuring contributions from historians, authors, scientists, and researchers.
• Court Night Live Live series hosted by Vinnie Politan and Judge Greg Mathis, with analysis from retired Judge Vonda Evans, seeing civil cases from across the country litigated live from pop-up courtrooms in Philadelphia, Tampa, and Chicago, with viewers voting on verdicts via text message in select cases.
• Ugliest House in America Series where comedian Retta travels across the country to tour properties nominated by their owners as the ugliest home around, with designer Alison Victoria surprising the homeowners with a $150,000 renovation.
• Live Rescue Live documentary series following rescue operations, extending Big Fish's live multi-city broadcast format from law enforcement to first responder and rescue contexts.
• Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan History Channel groundbreaking TV series giving viewers a first-person view of the U.S. Military's Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit during a six-month deployment in Afghanistan.
• Amy Schumer Learns to Cook Food Network quarantine series starring comedian Amy Schumer and chef husband Chris Fischer cooking comfort food at home.
• Kitchen Crash Food Network competition series hosted by Jeff Mauro where chefs compete in outdoor cookoffs using ingredients from homeowners' fridges.
• Martha Knows Best Series giving a behind-the-scenes look at Martha Stewart's gardening projects on her New York farm, including home improvement and pet grooming.
• DC Cupcakes Series following Sophie and Katherine of Georgetown Cupcake as they navigate the challenges of building a booming cupcake business.
• White House Christmas Special featuring Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel decorating the White House for Christmas 2022 with a hundred volunteers over 72 hours.
• White House Thanksgiving Special featuring First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Trisha Yearwood celebrating Thanksgiving with an exclusive look at the First Family's traditions and recipes.
• Cartel Crew Docuseries following individuals connected to the drug cartel world.
• Animal ER Live Live veterinary emergency room series extending Big Fish's live broadcast expertise into veterinary emergency care.
• Driven Docuseries following young entrepreneurs at PTG365 who deliver flashy, custom exotic cars to high roller clients.
• Club MTV #DanceTogether MTV revival of the iconic Club MTV franchise, produced as a one-night musical event hosted by DJ D-Nice during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Swae Meets World Documentary following Swae Lee as he prepares to launch his first solo album.
• PD Cam Spinoff series from Live PD featuring body camera footage from police officers.
• Truth Behind the Moon Landing Documentary series examining theories surrounding the moon landing.
• Thanksgiving Live Two-hour live interactive event 'The Kitchen: Thanksgiving Live' on Food Network followed by live classes on Food Network Kitchen app.

Quantifiable outcome

• Live PD earned A&E huge ratings and generated 100-episode order
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monami EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonami Entertainment, led by Mona Scott-Young, partners with Big Fish Entertainment and VH1 on the Love & Hip Hop franchise, including Love & Hip Hop: Miami. The companies co-produce the reality series franchise.
• Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & LezcanominorOthersLaw firm providing legal representation for Big Fish Entertainment for deal negotiations and corporate matters.
• UTA (United Talent Agency)minorOthersRepresented by David Kirsch and Geoff Suddelson at UTA for agency representation.
• Baby Grande PRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR firm handling all press inquiries for Big Fish Entertainment.
• Gates FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Reality PD public schools project - campaign to support education initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Propagate Content: Independent unscripted production company behind Charmed, Match Game, and Phenoms. Comparable as a similarly scaled, network-and-streaming-facing production boutique competing for format commissions.
• Authentic Entertainment: Producer of Southern Charm, Wahlburgers, and Ace of Cake for Bravo and A&E. Comparable boutique-scale unscripted cable-reality peer with overlapping network relationships.
• 51 Minds Entertainment: Producer of The Surreal Life, Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, and other VH1-adjacent reality formats. Most comparable peer in terms of genre focus (cable reality VH1-era programming) and network relationships.
• Leftfield Entertainment: Producer of Pawn Stars, American Restoration, and other A&E non-fiction programming. Highly comparable peer because of shared A&E customer relationship and historical reality/non-fiction format focus.
• Evolution Media: Acquired by MGM in 2017 (one year before Big Fish), Evolution produces the Real Housewives franchise for Bravo. Now a sibling company under MGM, making it the most direct in-house peer — both are MGM-owned unscripted cable-reality production shops with similar business models.

Broad incumbents

• Fremantle: Massive global unscripted and scripted production company behind formats like American Idol, X Factor, and Got Talent. Directly comparable as a large-scale unscripted TV production house; Big Fish competes for similar cable/streaming commissions at a smaller scale.
• ITV Studios America: U.S. subsidiary of ITV Studios producing unscripted programming for major U.S. networks including Love Island (CBS), The Chase. Compares on production scale, multi-network slate, and cable/streaming commissioning model.
• Banijay Americas: World's largest independent content producer following Endemol Shine merger; produces reality, factual, and entertainment content for major U.S. networks. Closest category analog to Big Fish in terms of cable-reality market position and franchise-building.
• Shed Media (a Warner Bros. Television Studios company): Mid-to-large unscripted production company within Warner Bros. Television group producing shows including The Real Housewives of New York City. Comparable conglomerate-owned unscripted peer with similar franchise-extension business model.
• All3Media America: U.S. arm of All3Media group producing unscripted content including Undercover Boss, Worst Cooks in America. Comparable as a multi-show, multi-network unscripted production house serving U.S. cable networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bigfishusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Big Fish Entertainment