Format
Format is a Philadelphia-based, B2B creative content studio founded in 2007 that provides live-action production, VFX/animation, photography, virtual production, and in-house post-production for advertising agencies and direct brand clients across CPG, automotive, spirits, and public-sector verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Format does
Format is a Philadelphia-based creative content studio founded in 2007 that operates as a B2B production partner for advertising agencies and direct brand clients. The company provides an end-to-end creative production pipeline spanning live-action shooting, VFX and animation, photography, virtual production using Unreal Engine on LED walls, and full in-house post-production (editorial, color grading, CGI, retouching, motion graphics, sound design, mix, and versioning). Its production infrastructure includes an in-house studio with a proprietary snorkel lens system, custom set builds, and stop-motion capabilities, supplemented by a strategic partnership with Pine Box Studios in Delaware for additional LED-wall and set construction capacity. The studio has produced work for a deep roster of recognizable consumer and enterprise brands including Coca-Cola, Audi, IKEA, Subaru, Metlife, White Castle, Dietz & Watson, Sparkling Ice, and Gerber, as well as public-sector clients such as Visit Philadelphia, NJ Health, and Delaware Quitline.
Format's revenue model is professional-services-based: projects are priced on a custom, scope-driven basis depending on production days, post-production complexity, VFX intensity, and deliverable formats, with no public pricing tiers. Go-to-market runs primarily through long-tenured agency partnerships — most prominently Red Tettemer O'Connell + Partners (RTO+P) across 20+ campaigns, plus Merkley + Partners, ModOp, Brownstein Group, AB&C, Quench, and Madwell — combined with direct brand relationships for clients such as Cento Fine Foods, JOIE Baby, Big Fig, and GoPuff. The customer base is horizontal, spanning CPG, automotive, food and beverage, spirits, insurance, children's products, government, and nonprofit segments, with no single end-client dominating disclosed activity though several brands (Dietz & Watson, White Castle, Sparkling Ice, Subaru) represent repeat franchises.
Format is a private, independently operating company with 11–50 employees, no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and no public-company signals. Leadership is anchored by Nic Reader as CEO and Executive Creative Director. The studio has received industry recognition including an ADDY Award from the American Advertising Federation for the Dietz & Watson 'Frank & Stein's' campaign. Distribution of its services is entirely B2B and project-based, with deliverables spanning broadcast television, social media, digital content, and specialized formats such as stop-motion series and virtual production spec work.
Format firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Format
- Legal name
- Format
- Website
- https://format.tv
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Format is a Philadelphia-based, B2B creative content studio founded in 2007 that provides live-action production, VFX/animation, photography, virtual production, and in-house post-production for advertising agencies and direct brand clients across CPG, automotive, spirits, and public-sector verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Format industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Production Services
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Branded Entertainment & Long-Form Content (Series, Shorts, Films) (MPADAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Post-Production Facilities & Stage Services (Edit Suites, Screening Rooms) (MPAHAAAJ), Post-Production Facilities & Suites (Edit/Color/Sound Stages) (MPADAGAI), Graphics, Branding & Character Generation (CG) (MPAHAKAF)
Keywords
Where Format is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Format business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Creative Production Services: Project-based production services for agencies and brands including creative development, full-scale production, and post-production. Revenue generated through individual campaign projects for clients such as Nesquik, Carhartt, White Castle, Dietz & Watson, and others.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Format product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Format is a Philadelphia-based creative content studio that delivers creative development, full-scale production, and in-house post-production services for brands and agencies worldwide. Its core work spans live-action commercial shoots, VFX and animation, professional photography, and post-production (editorial, color grading, sound design, motion graphics), with specialized virtual production capabilities using Unreal Engine and LED walls.
Product overview
Format is a creative content studio offering creative development, full-scale production, and in-house post-production services for brands and agencies worldwide. The company's core offerings span three main service areas: Live-Action Production (commercial shoots, brand campaigns), VFX/Animation (visual effects, CGI, motion graphics), and Photography (product and campaign photography). They additionally provide specialized Virtual Production using Unreal Engine and LED walls, and comprehensive Post-Production services including editorial, VFX, color grading, and sound design. The studio serves diverse client categories including consumer brands, automotive, food and beverage, healthcare, and non-profits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live-Action Production Full-scale live-action video production services for brands and agencies, including commercial shoots, brand campaigns, and promotional content delivered via the studio's in-house facility.
- VFX / Animation Visual effects and animation production services including CGI integration, particle smoke effects, motion graphics, and digital environments built for client campaigns.
- Photography Professional photography services including product photography, digital magazine photoshoots, brand stills content, and beauty shots for advertising clients.
- Virtual Production In-house virtual production using Unreal Engine and LED walls to deliver real-time visual effects and immersive environments, reducing dependency on physical locations and weather.
- Post-Production Services Integrated in-house post-production including editorial, VFX, color grading, sound design, mix, and versioning for broadcast and social media deliverables, ensuring creative continuity from shoot to final delivery.
Companies that use Format
Customer profileNamed customers44 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Format technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Format partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Pine Box StudioscoreStrategic production partnership with Pine Box Studios in Delaware for additional production space, LED wall capabilities (50' LED wall on mobile track), and custom set building. Pine Box provides the controlled environment necessary for projects like American Standard's seasonal transformation campaign.
- VP ToolkitsupportingVirtual production technology partnership for Audi 'Pure Imagination' spec spot, combining Format's production expertise with VP Toolkit's virtual production tools.
- CatalystsupportingTechnology partner for virtual production projects, contributing to the comprehensive virtual production ecosystem for the Audi spec spot.
- Expressway Cinema RentalssupportingEquipment rental partner providing cinema equipment and support for virtual production initiatives.
- Bud's StudiocoreProduction facility partnership for shoots including GoPuff Sylvester Stallone Tiger Eye campaign and JOIE Baby Target launch videos. Fast-paced production environment for stills and video content.
- Red Tettemer O'Connell + Partners (RTO+P)corePrimary agency partner with longest recurring relationship. Collaboration on 20+ campaigns including Dietz & Watson Super Bowl parody, Reyka Vodka Frikki series, Monkey Shoulder, Insomnia Cookies, Bugaboo, NFL x Bounty, and multiple White Castle campaigns.
- Merkley + PartnerscoreNew York-based agency partnership for White Castle campaigns including 'Bougie on a Budget', 'The Sloppy Life', 'Microcastle', '1921 Party', and Zwilling 'Live Every Meal'.
- ModOpcoreAgency partnership spanning multiple projects including VTECH DX4, Big Fig 'The Story of Big Fig', Fruit Friends x Annie's, LeapFrog 'Rocket Scientist', Nesquik 'Rain Delay', Gerber campaigns, and Sparkling Ice Olympics.
- Aloysius, Butler, & Clark (AB&C)supportingDelaware-based agency partnership for NJ HEALTH anti-stigma and Delaware Quitline 'Smoke Trail' public health campaigns.
- QuenchsupportingAgency partnership for Sun-Maid holiday campaign and Herr's regional broadcast commercials.
- Brownstein GroupsupportingPartnership for IKEA 'Solve It In A Snap' multi-year video series with stop-motion production.
- Truth & ConsequencessupportingSurging agency partnership for Violife 'Give It Up' plant-based campaign with comedian voiceover.
- MadwellsupportingBrooklyn-based agency for Bugaboo 'Engineered for Baby' stroller campaign featuring Fox, Donkey, and Bee lines.
- EFK GroupsupportingPartnership for Bowie State University promotional video for distinguished HBCU.
- RONDEE ProductionssupportingPuppet production partner for Dietz & Watson 'Sammie' back-to-school campaign with No Kid Hungry, bringing puppet character 'Sammie' to life.
- Philadelphia UnionsupportingPartnership with Philadelphia Union soccer team for Subaru 'Gear for Good' community program video featuring Alejandro Bedoya.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Format competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Mill: Larger global VFX, design and post-production studio serving agencies and brands. Overlaps Format's VFX/Animation and post-production offerings but at materially greater scale and breadth.
- Wieden+Kennedy (in-house production): Major global creative agency with significant in-house production and content capabilities serving the same Fortune 500 brand roster. Represents both a partner and a competitive threat as brands increasingly internalize production.
Direct peers
- Radical Media: Award-winning creative production studio producing commercials, branded content and feature documentaries for global brands and agencies. Same B2B creative-production service model with broader scale.
- Epoch Films: New York-based commercial production company with in-house editorial and finishing, representing directors and producing campaigns for global brands. Comparable agency-driven commercial work.
- Anonymous Content: Creative content company producing commercials, film, TV, and branded content with integrated post and directorial talent. Strongly comparable in offering breadth and agency-direct client base.
- B-Reel: Global creative studio producing films, interactive, and branded content for major brands with integrated production capabilities. Closely comparable end-to-end creative content studio model.
- Bullion Productions: Creative production studio serving brands and agencies with live-action, post-production and integrated content. Similar mid-size profile and B2B project-based model.
- Psyop: VFX, animation and content studio producing commercials, branded content and experiential work for brands and agencies. Strongly overlaps Format's VFX/Animation and motion graphics core offering.
- Arts & Science: Bicoastal creative content studio with integrated production, editorial and finishing capabilities serving agencies and brands. Closely matches Format's end-to-end model and agency-led GTM motion.
- Tool of North America: Bicoastal creative production studio and content company with in-house post, VFX, and director representation. Directly comparable service mix and agency-relationship GTM.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Format social profiles
Digital presenceFormat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Format leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Format funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Format 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 Format
What does Format do?
Format is a Philadelphia-based creative content studio that delivers creative development, full-scale production, and in-house post-production services for brands and agencies worldwide. Its core work spans live-action commercial shoots, VFX and animation, professional photography, and post-production (editorial, color grading, sound design, motion graphics), with specialized virtual production capabilities using Unreal Engine and LED walls.
Is Format a public or private company?
Format is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Format founded?
Format was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Format based?
Format is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Format make money?
One revenue line is on record: creative Production Services.
Who are Format's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Mill and Wieden+Kennedy (in-house production). Direct peers are Radical Media, Epoch Films, Anonymous Content, B-Reel, Bullion Productions, Psyop, Arts & Science and Tool of North America.
Does Format have an API?
No public API is recorded for Format.
What industry is Format in?
Format's product category is Commercial Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAEAG, Branded Entertainment & Long-Form Content (Series, Shorts, Films), with a secondary code of MPAHAAAJ, Post-Production Facilities & Stage Services (Edit Suites, Screening Rooms). Its SIC code is 7812.