DLP Media Group
DLP Media Group is a private El Segundo-based premium sports content production studio founded by Emmy-winning Executive Producer Michael Hughes, producing award-winning documentaries, branded entertainment, and live broadcasts for major sports networks (ESPN, FOX Sports, Amazon TNF) and consumer brands (State Farm, Hyundai, Nike).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DLP Media Group does
DLP Media Group is a private, premium sports and entertainment content production studio operating as DLP Media Holdings, LLC out of El Segundo, California. The company was founded by 10-time Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer Michael Hughes and media executive Greg Lake, and it serves two principal customer segments: major sports networks and broadcasters (ESPN, FOX Sports, NFL Media, Amazon TNF, NBC Sports, Netflix, National Geographic, A&E, MLB, UFC, NASCAR, LA Rams, LIV Golf, Blizzard Entertainment, UNINTERRUPTED) and consumer brands seeking sports-adjacent advertising and branded entertainment (State Farm, Hyundai, Gatorade, Apple, Nike, Under Armour, Lexus, Audible, PNC Bank, AT&T, Levi's, among others).
DLP's offering spans three core service lines — Long Form Content Production (Peabody Award-winning documentaries including three films in ESPN's '30 for 30' series), Branded Entertainment (custom content series for major advertisers), and Live & Event Broadcasting (studio, live, and event production for ESPN, FOX Sports, and Amazon TNF) — supported by in-house Strategy & Development, Production, and Post Production divisions (DaVinci Resolve color correction, VFX, audio mixing, digital/social asset creation). The company produces sports broadcast openings, promos, documentary series, and television commercials, including a demonstrated 30-hour shoot-to-air rapid turnaround capability.
DLP generates revenue through project-based B2B professional services with custom, non-publicly disclosed pricing. Its go-to-market motion is sales-led and reputation-driven, anchored by founder/Executive Producer Michael Hughes' industry standing, a Peabody Award, an Emmy for Best Tease, and a 2020 Sundance Film Festival selection (Lance). The firm operates with 11–50 employees, no disclosed institutional funding, and no parent-company structure.
DLP Media Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DLP Media Group
- Legal name
- DLP Media Holdings, LLC
- Website
- https://dlpmediagroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DLP Media Group is a private El Segundo-based premium sports content production studio founded by Emmy-winning Executive Producer Michael Hughes, producing award-winning documentaries, branded entertainment, and live broadcasts for major sports networks (ESPN, FOX Sports, Amazon TNF) and consumer brands (State Farm, Hyundai, Nike).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DLP Media Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Media Production Services
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B Sports Digital Syndication & White-Label Streaming Services (MPAKAOAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels (MPABAHAG)
Keywords
Where DLP Media Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DLP Media Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Long-Form Content Production: Documentary and feature film production for major sports networks including ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, Amazon, and others
- Branded Entertainment: Custom branded content and marketing spots for consumer brands including GATORADE, UNDER ARMOUR, BUICK, CALLAWAY, LEVIS, SCHICK, AT&T, State Farm, Hyundai, Lexus, Nike, and others
- Live & Event Broadcasting: Full-service creative, editorial and production capabilities for studio, live and event broadcasts
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
DLP Media Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DLP Media Group is a premium sports media production studio that develops, produces, and manages long-form documentaries, branded entertainment content, live event broadcasts, and commercial spots. The company serves major sports networks (ESPN, FOX Sports, NFL Media, Amazon TNF) and consumer brands (Gatorade, Nike, Hyundai, State Farm) with end-to-end capabilities spanning strategy, production, and post-production.
Product overview
DLP Media Group is a premium sports and entertainment content production company founded by 10-time Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer Michael Hughes and media executive Greg Lake. The company operates across three core service categories: Long Form Content Production (Peabody Award-winning documentaries including ESPN's '30 for 30' series), Branded Entertainment (custom content for major advertisers), and Live & Event Broadcasting (studio and live event production for ESPN, FOX Sports, and other networks). These services are supported by in-house Strategy & Development, full-service Production, and Post Production divisions. The company produces commercial content, documentary series, broadcast openings, and promotional materials for clients across the sports media landscape.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Long Form Content Production Peabody Award-winning documentary and feature film production including ESPN's '30 for 30' series, with full-service pre-production, production, and post-production capabilities for sports networks and content partners.
- Branded Entertainment Branded documentary and content series for major advertisers including Gatorade, Under Armour, Buick, Callaway, Levi's, Schick, and AT&T, producing authentic stories that help brands connect with sports audiences.
- Live & Event Broadcasting Full-service creative, editorial, and production capabilities for studio, live, and event broadcasts, with thousands of hours of experience producing content for ESPN and FOX Sports.
- Commercial Production Television commercial production for major brands including Apple, State Farm, Hyundai, Nike, Lexus, PNC Bank, NOBULL, and others, with rapid turnaround capabilities (30-hour shoot-to-air for Lexus TX campaign).
- Strategy & Development Services In-house creative ideation, long-form and short-form content development, digital-first content development, talent procurement, full project scope budgeting, and full-service legal contract negotiation.
- Post Production Services In-house creative editorial, long-form and short-form editing, digital/social asset creation, VFX and graphic design, DaVinci Resolve color correction, audio mixing, and project delivery for all broadcast specifications.
- Sports Broadcast Openings & Promos Custom broadcast open packages, game opens, and promotional content for NFL Thursday Night Football, Super Bowl broadcasts, NASCAR coverage, and major sporting events.
- Documentary Series Production Multi-part documentary series production for ESPN 30 for 30, FOX Sports, A&E, and other networks, including biographical films, investigative documentaries, and sports history explorations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Peabody Award winning content
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DLP Media Group
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DLP Media Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
DLP Media Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ESPNcoreLong-form content partner for '30 for 30' series and Depth Chart multi-part series. DLP has produced multiple acclaimed documentaries for ESPN including Lance, Rodman: For Better or Worse, and Pony Excess.
- FOX SportscoreExtensive content partnership producing documentaries, Super Bowl opens and promos, and feature content for FOX Sports and FS1. Projects include The Greatest Super Bowl LI tribute, Perfection Emmy-winning promo, and over 40 content pieces.
- Amazon TNFcoreOngoing partnership for Thursday Night Football pregame content including show opens (2022, 2023), Black Friday content, and brand integrations with Lexus, State Farm, Pedigree, Old El Paso, and Hyundai.
- NFL MediacoreContent partnership with NFL Media producing documentaries, series content, and specials including Indivisible, Destination Dallas with Aaron Rodgers, and National Football Families.
- NBC SportsminorListed as content production partner alongside ESPN, FOX Sports, and other major networks.
- NetflixminorListed as content production partner for documentary and long-form content.
- National GeographicminorListed as content production partner.
- A&E NetworksminorProduced Finding Hulk Hogan documentary series for A&E.
- Major League BaseballminorListed as content production partner including Confessions of a Cubs Fan for FS1 and other MLB content.
- NASCARminorProduced Unrivaled documentary on Earnhardt vs Gordon rivalry with FOX Sports.
- UFCminorProduced Unrestricted behind-the-scenes content and Fighting for a Generation documentary.
- VH-1minorListed as content production partner.
- GatoradecoreBranded entertainment client producing Born and Bred content with LA Rams and Inside the Edge branded content series with ESPN showcasing elite athletes and Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
- Under ArmourcoreCreated Are You From Here? branded content series for national campaign exploring environments that forged superstar players.
- State FarmcoreMultiple commercial productions including Bundle Bust, Unpredictable, Oh Snap, and Can't Take This featuring Ryan Fitzpatrick and Charissa Thompson.
- HyundaicoreCommercial productions including Too Slow, Tunnel, and Un-Safeties featuring NFL safeties.
- Blizzard EntertainmentcoreWatchpoint flagship show production for Overwatch League inaugural season and Heroes Rising series with Old Spice.
- UNINTERRUPTEDcoreLeBron James' UNINTERRUPTED platform partnership producing Rebuilt documentary about Chris Bosh.
- AudibleminorCreated Call an Audible commercial with Ryan Fitzpatrick leveraging Thursday Night Football presenting sponsorship.
- AT&TcoreBehind the Dream series about Olympians and Paralympians for 2016 Olympics with no product placement focus.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DLP Media Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Radical Media: Long-established global production company with deep sports and branded entertainment credits. Comparable in craft quality and enterprise client base, but operates at significantly greater scale across multiple verticals.
- ESPN Films: ESPN's in-house long-form documentary unit and producer of the '30 for 30' series in which DLP has placed three films. Closely comparable in output and category but operates at network scale rather than as an independent supplier.
- NFL Films: Long-established in-house sports documentary and content production arm of the NFL. Competes with DLP for sports documentary commissions (e.g., the Indivisible and National Football Families work DLP already does for NFL Media) but operates as part of a much larger, vertically integrated entity.
- VICE Sports: Sports documentary and editorial production division of VICE Media. Comparable in producing narrative sports documentaries for digital and broadcast distribution, though embedded within a much larger publisher.
Direct peers
- Believe Media: Independent production company specializing in sports, lifestyle, and brand documentary work for major leagues and advertisers. Directly comparable in client profile, sports domain focus, and project-based revenue model.
- Campfire: New York-based premium documentary and branded content studio with credits across streamers and major brands. Comparable to DLP's model of marrying prestige long-form documentary craft with brand-sponsored content production.
- Mandalay Sports Media: Sports-vertical production arm of Mandalay Entertainment producing premium sports content for leagues, networks, and brands. Directly comparable as a mid-sized B2B sports content production company targeting the same enterprise client set.
- OBB Media: Independent premium content studio producing branded entertainment, documentaries, and sports-adjacent storytelling for major brands and platforms. Comparable in craft, client caliber, and B2B project-based delivery model.
- Box to Box Films: Award-winning documentary production house behind Formula 1: Drive to Survive and other premium sports series. Closely comparable in delivering high-craft, narrative-driven sports content to streamers and networks.
- Religion of Sports: Sports-focused documentary and content production studio co-founded by Tom Brady, Gotham Chopra, and Michael Strahan. Directly comparable to DLP's model of premium, narratively driven sports documentaries for major networks and brands.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DLP Media Group social profiles
Digital presenceDLP Media Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DLP Media Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
DLP Media Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DLP Media Group 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 DLP Media Group
What does DLP Media Group do?
DLP Media Group is a premium sports media production studio that develops, produces, and manages long-form documentaries, branded entertainment content, live event broadcasts, and commercial spots. The company serves major sports networks (ESPN, FOX Sports, NFL Media, Amazon TNF) and consumer brands (Gatorade, Nike, Hyundai, State Farm) with end-to-end capabilities spanning strategy, production, and post-production.
Is DLP Media Group a public or private company?
DLP Media Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DLP Media Group founded?
DLP Media Group was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DLP Media Group based?
DLP Media Group is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does DLP Media Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Long-Form Content Production is the primary driver. The others are branded Entertainment and live & Event Broadcasting.
Who are DLP Media Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Radical Media, ESPN Films, NFL Films and VICE Sports. Direct peers are Believe Media, Campfire, Mandalay Sports Media, OBB Media, Box to Box Films and Religion of Sports.
Does DLP Media Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for DLP Media Group.
What industry is DLP Media Group in?
DLP Media Group's product category is Sports Media Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAOAJ, B2B Sports Digital Syndication & White-Label Streaming Services, with a secondary code of MPABAHAG, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels. Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 7812.