Format

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.

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

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

• Creative production studio
• Commercial video production
• Visual effects animation
• Virtual production services
• Post-production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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. 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

Core 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.

Named customers44 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Pine Box StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic 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 ToolkitsupportingTechnology or IntegrationVirtual production technology partnership for Audi 'Pure Imagination' spec spot, combining Format's production expertise with VP Toolkit's virtual production tools.
• CatalystsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for virtual production projects, contributing to the comprehensive virtual production ecosystem for the Audi spec spot.
• Expressway Cinema RentalssupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment rental partner providing cinema equipment and support for virtual production initiatives.
• Bud's StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 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 + PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York-based agency partnership for White Castle campaigns including 'Bougie on a Budget', 'The Sloppy Life', 'Microcastle', '1921 Party', and Zwilling 'Live Every Meal'.
• ModOpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelaware-based agency partnership for NJ HEALTH anti-stigma and Delaware Quitline 'Smoke Trail' public health campaigns.
• QuenchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partnership for Sun-Maid holiday campaign and Herr's regional broadcast commercials.
• Brownstein GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for IKEA 'Solve It In A Snap' multi-year video series with stop-motion production.
• Truth & ConsequencessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurging agency partnership for Violife 'Give It Up' plant-based campaign with comedian voiceover.
• MadwellsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn-based agency for Bugaboo 'Engineered for Baby' stroller campaign featuring Fox, Donkey, and Bee lines.
• EFK GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Bowie State University promotional video for distinguished HBCU.
• RONDEE ProductionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPuppet production partner for Dietz & Watson 'Sammie' back-to-school campaign with No Kid Hungry, bringing puppet character 'Sammie' to life.
• Philadelphia UnionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/format_creative

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 Format