What Time Studios does

Time Studios is the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning content production studio of TIME magazine, founded in 2017 and operating as a division of TIME USA, LLC. The studio develops, produces, and distributes premium feature documentaries, documentary series, unscripted television specials, branded storytelling campaigns, podcasts, and immersive VR experiences, anchored by the editorial credibility of TIME's 100-year brand and access to a 120 million+ global audience.

Its core offerings span feature documentaries (e.g., 'Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words', 'Frida', 'The Territory'), multi-part documentary series ('Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam', 'JEEN-YUHS: A Kanye Trilogy', 'Big Vape', 'Under Pressure'), annual tentpole television specials (TIME100, Person of the Year, Kid of the Year), branded content produced for 40+ enterprise clients, and a growing podcast slate via a Sugar23 partnership. Technical differentiation is concentrated in two areas: immersive VR/360 production ('The March 360', 'Space Explorers: The ISS Experience' — the largest production filmed in space) and AI-generated short-form video ('On This Day…1776', built on Google DeepMind's Veo in partnership with Darren Aronofsky's Primordial Soup).

Time Studios generates revenue through two primary streams: (1) documentary and series licensing fees from major streaming platforms (Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock) and broadcasters (CNN, ABC, National Geographic, PBS, A&E, ESPN, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel), and (2) project-based branded content engagements with Fortune 500 sponsors across automotive, healthcare, technology, and financial services. Go-to-market is relationship-led, leveraging TIME's editorial ecosystem, festival premieres (Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca), and the TIME100 annual tentpole program as anchor platforms for both distribution deals and brand sponsorships.

Name

Time Studios

Legal name

TIME USA, LLC

Website

https://studios.time.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Time Studios is the Emmy- and Peabody-winning content studio of TIME magazine, producing premium documentaries, branded storytelling campaigns, unscripted TV specials, podcasts, and immersive VR experiences for major streaming platforms and 40+ Fortune 500 brand partners globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary and Branded Content Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Feature-Length Documentaries (MPADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)

Keywords

• Documentary production
• Branded storytelling
• Content licensing
• Immersive experiences
• Unscripted television

Headquarters

HQ city

Nyack

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Documentary and Series Licensing: Time Studios produces documentaries and unscripted content that are licensed to major streaming platforms (Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, CNN, National Geographic, etc.) and broadcasters (ABC, MSNBC, PBS, A&E, ESPN, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel). Revenue comes from licensing fees for original productions.
2. Branded Storytelling: Time Studios partners with brands to create visually compelling, thought-driven branded content campaigns. Partners include Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, American Family Insurance, Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb, Fortescue, Amazon, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, and 40+ other brands. Revenue generated through sponsored content agreements.
3. Podcast Production: Production of podcasts such as 'Person of the Week' in partnership with Sugar23, generating revenue through sponsorships and platform licensing.
4. Festival and Event Content: Content premieres and screenings at major festivals including Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, which drive brand awareness and distribution deals.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Time Studios is the award-winning content studio of TIME magazine, developing, producing and distributing premium documentaries, documentary series, unscripted and scripted television, original TV specials (TIME100, Kid of the Year, Person of the Year), podcasts (Person of the Week), branded storytelling campaigns for enterprise clients, and immersive VR/360 films (The March 360, MLK: Now is the Time). Content is licensed to streaming platforms (Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock) and broadcasters (CNN, National Geographic, ABC, PBS, MSNBC, A&E, ESPN, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel), premiered at Sundance/SXSW/Tribeca, and distributed on YouTube for AI-animated series.

Product overview

TIME Studios is the Emmy Award-winning content studio of TIME magazine, creating premium documentaries, branded storytelling, unscripted content, and immersive experiences. The portfolio centers on feature documentaries (Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, Frida, The Territory) and documentary series (Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam, JEEN-YUHS: A Kanye Trilogy, Big Vape, Under Pressure), alongside original TV specials (TIME100, Kid of the Year, Person of the Year) and podcasts (Person of the Week). The studio also produces branded content partnerships through its Brand Storytelling division and develops immersive VR/360 experiences (MLK: Now is the Time, The March 360). Content premieres across major streaming platforms including Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, National Geographic, ABC, and MSNBC, reaching audiences of 120 million+ touchpoints.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TIME Studios: Award-winning content studio of TIME magazine creating premium documentaries, branded storytelling, unscripted and scripted content.

Products and services

• JEEN-YUHS: A Kanye Trilogy Three-part documentary series tracing Kanye West from his formative years in Chicago to his global brand and cultural influence, drawn from over twenty years of never-before-seen footage. Licensed to Netflix.
• Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam Multi-part documentary series chronicling the music mogul Lou Pearlman's fraudulent empire and the rise and fall of late-1990s/early-2000s boy bands. Streams on Netflix.
• Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul Documentary series examining Silicon Valley innovation culture and the rise and regulatory downfall of vaping company Juul. Streams on Netflix.
• Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words Feature documentary giving viewers behind-the-scenes access to the Houston rapper's journey navigating fame, grief, pressure and success. Streams on Amazon Prime Video.
• Frida Feature documentary about artist Frida Kahlo, narrated from her own diary entries, letters, and interviews, with lyrical animation inspired by her art. Streams on Amazon Prime Video; received 3 News & Documentary Emmy nominations in 2025.
• The Territory Feature documentary following an Indigenous surveillance team in the Amazon as they defend their land against illegal deforestation and encroachment. Streams on National Geographic; Peabody Award winner.
• Katrina Babies Documentary by Edward Buckles Jr. using oral storytelling traditions to capture the experiences of children who survived Hurricane Katrina. Streams on HBO.
• The Lionheart Feature documentary following the Wheldon family's continuing pursuit of motorsport excellence in the wake of Dan Wheldon's fatal racing accident. Streams on HBO; received 5 Sports Emmy nominations in 2025.
• Space Explorers: The ISS Experience Emmy-winning four-part documentary series, the largest production ever filmed in space, documenting eight astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
• A Year in Space Emmy-winning two-part documentary series following astronaut Scott Kelly's year-long mission aboard the International Space Station alongside cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. Streams on PBS.
• Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space Documentary series tracking the all-civilian crew of the Inspiration4 mission as they became the first non-professional astronauts to orbit Earth. Streams on Netflix.
• Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team All-access documentary series following the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's pursuit of a third consecutive Women's World Cup title. Streams on Netflix.
• TIME100 Television Special Annual primetime television special bringing TIME's TIME100 list of the world's most influential people to a broadcast audience, produced in partnership with ABC and presented alongside branded storytelling activations.
• Kid of the Year Television Special Annual television special accompanying TIME's Kid of the Year recognition, honoring young leaders making an impact across social justice, science, and education. Daytime Emmy-nominated.
• Person of the Year Television Special Annual television special spotlighting the editor's selections for TIME's Person of the Year, broadcast across multiple platforms.
• Person of the Week Podcast Weekly podcast produced in partnership with Sugar23 and hosted by TIME Senior Correspondent Charlotte Alter, featuring candid conversations with people shaping the world.
• The Solutionaries Three-part documentary series co-produced with the Project Management Institute, profiling three entrepreneurs tackling climate change through innovation in recycling, agriculture, and fashion. Directed by Academy Award nominee Edward Buckles Jr.
• Brand Storytelling Premium branded storytelling campaigns and event-content activations for enterprise brand partners, combining TIME's editorial excellence with creative vision to produce integrated video, print, digital, automotive, and event content across the brand's franchise platforms (TIME100, Women of the Year, Earth Awards, Climate Leadership Forum, TIME100 AI, TIME100 Health, etc.).
• MLK: Now is the Time Emmy-nominated immersive film exploring themes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech and systemic inequities, adapted from TIME's VR exhibit.
• The March 360 Immersive 360-degree VR film depicting the 1963 March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, produced with Viola Davis's Juvee Productions, RYOT Studios, Valis, and Digital Domain.
• On This Day...1776 AI-animated short film series depicting pivotal moments from America's founding year through photorealistic avatars of historical figures, produced in partnership with Primordial Soup (Darren Aronofsky) using Google DeepMind technology including Google's Veo for AI video generation. Released on the TIME YouTube channel throughout 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• TIME Studios reaches audiences of 120 million+ across multiple touchpoints
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

48 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Piers MorganminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Piers Morgan teamed with Time Studios to create a new interview series, expanding Time Studios' original content offerings.
• Polygram Entertainment (UMG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Polygram Entertainment (Universal Music Group's division) partnered with Time Studios and Known Originals to produce a docuseries exploring UMG's vaults, hosted by Fred Armisen. The series will premiere in 2026 and features behind-the-scenes stories and rare artifacts from the world's largest music archives.
• Known OriginalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Known Originals partnered with Time Studios and Polygram Entertainment (UMG) to produce a docuseries about UMG's music vaults hosted by Fred Armisen.
• Primordial SoupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Darren Aronofsky's AI studio Primordial Soup partnered with Time Studios to produce 'On This Day...1776', an AI-animated short film series depicting events from the American Revolution using photorealistic avatars. The series was also partnered with Google DeepMind and Salesforce.
• Google DeepMindcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Google DeepMind provided AI technology for the 'On This Day...1776' series, using tools like Google's Veo for AI video generation. Production source notes the iterative AI video generation process takes 'weeks' to produce minutes of usable footage.
• SalesforceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Salesforce partnered on the 'On This Day...1776' AI-generated series alongside Primordial Soup, Google DeepMind, and Time Studios.
• Project Management InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between award-winning TIME Studios and Project Management Institute to produce 'The Solutionaries', a groundbreaking three-part documentary series celebrating entrepreneurs rewriting rules for living on the planet, focusing on climate change solutions in recycling, agriculture, and fashion.
• Sugar23coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTime Studios partnered with Sugar23 to produce original podcasts including 'Person of the Week' hosted by TIME Senior Correspondent Charlotte Alter. Previously collaborated on scripted content development.
• Protozoa (Darren Aronofsky)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDarren Aronofsky's Protozoa studio partnered with Time Studios to produce 'Black Gold', a documentary series exposing a global conspiracy about environmental cover-ups.
• Hartbeat (Kevin Hart)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced 'Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution' with Kevin Hart's Hartbeat, exploring the progression of Black comedy and comedians who exposed societal injustices.
• Roc NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTime Studios partnered with Jay-Z's Roc Nation on documentaries including the Christina Aguilera documentary and Megan Thee Stallion documentary series.
• NelvanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Canadian animation studio Nelvana for animated kids' series based on NFT creators and 'Robotos' NFTs.
• Juvee ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Producer Viola Davis's Juvee Productions collaborated with Time Studios on 'The March 360' immersive VR experience.
• RYOT StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRYOT Studios partnered with Time Studios on 'The March 360' immersive VR film bringing the 1963 March on Washington to virtual reality.
• Digital DomaincoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital Domain provided VR technology for 'The March 360' immersive film, in collaboration with Viola Davis's Juvee Productions, RYOT Studios, and Valis.
• ValiscoreTechnology or IntegrationValis collaborated on 'The March 360' VR experience, bringing immersive technology to Time Studios' documentary content.
• ToyotacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerToyota partnered with Time Studios for branded storytelling including TIME100 Next, TIME100 Gala, Women of the Year events, 'Altadena Girls' content, and Toyota bZ electric vehicle campaigns.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 and TIME100 AI programming, featuring Amazon's Chief Sustainability Officer and AI leadership initiatives.
• Jaguar Land RovercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJaguar Land Rover partnered with Time Studios for branded content including 'Mercy Chefs' and 'Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team' stories.
• Eli LillycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEli Lilly partnered with Time Studios for branded storytelling about clinical trial participants and healthcare innovation.
• Bristol Myers SquibbcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBristol Myers Squibb partnered with Time Studios for branded content featuring patient stories about innovative lymphoma treatments.
• FortescuecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFortescue partnered with Time Studios for 'Climate Compass' branded content and TIME Climate Leadership Forum participation.
• Delta Air LinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta partnered with Time Studios for TIME Earth Awards and branded content about Delta's journey toward sustainable aviation.
• NvidiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNvidia partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 AI programming, featuring AI leadership insights.
• QualcommcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerQualcomm partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 AI programming, showcasing AI and edge computing innovations.
• PepsiCocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPepsiCo partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 AI programming and the 'Future Back Drinking' podcast hosted by PepsiCo's CEO.
• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 AI programming exploring AI and the future of fashion.
• The Allstate FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Allstate Foundation partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 Philanthropy and Dreamer of the Year programs.
• New MurabbacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Murabba partnered with Time Studios for branded content about Saudi Arabia's visionary urban expansion for Riyadh.
• Northern Data GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthern Data Group partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 Talks on AI leadership and innovation.
• DeloittecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDeloitte partnered with Time Studios for TIME Women of the Year programming.
• NovartiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNovartis partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 Health Leadership Forum.
• VerizoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVerizon partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 Summit featuring CEO Hans Vestberg.
• XPRIZEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerXPRIZE partnered with Time Studios for TIME100 Summit programming.
• Sundance InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSundance Institute partnered with Time Studios on documentaries addressing gun violence including 'Sol in the Garden' and 'House of Tulip', supported by the Kendeda Fund.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix is a major distribution partner for Time Studios content including 'Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam', 'Under Pressure', 'jeen-yuhs', 'Big Vape', 'Untold: The Fall of Favre', 'Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space', and 'The Mars Generation'.
• HBOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHBO distributes Time Studios content including 'The Lionheart' and 'Katrina Babies' documentaries.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Prime Video distributes Time Studios documentaries including 'Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words' and 'Frida'.
• National GeographiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational Geographic distributes Time Studios' Peabody-winning documentary 'The Territory'.
• CNNcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCNN distributes Time Studios content including 'American Pain' and 'Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down'.
• ABCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorABC broadcasts Time Studios' annual TIME100 television special and 'Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days' documentary.
• Paramount+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParamount+ distributes Time Studios' 'Black Gold' documentary produced with Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa.
• MSNBC/PeacockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMSNBC and Peacock distribute multiple Time Studios documentaries including Rudy Giuliani story, 'Split Screen', 'Guerrilla Habeas', 'Martha's Vineyard v. DeSantis', 'Ayenda', 'Paper & Glue', 'Shouting Down Midnight', and more.
• PBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPBS distributes Time Studios content including 'A Year in Space' (Emmy-winning) and 'Delikado'.
• ShowtimecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShowtime distributes Time Studios' 'Ricky Powell: The Individualist' documentary.
• A&E NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA&E Network distributes Time Studios' 'Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution' documentary.
• ESPNcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorESPN distributes Time Studios' 'Empire Skate' documentary, a 2025 Tribeca Festival selection.
• Smithsonian ChannelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmithsonian Channel distributes Time Studios' 'On the Fly: Adventures at Altitude' aviation documentary.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/timestudiosfilm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/time
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/time-magazine
• Facebookfacebook.com/timestudios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Time Studios