What Rivr Media does

RIVR Media is a privately-held, full-service television production company founded in 1998 by Dee Haslam and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company develops and produces unscripted and lifestyle programming for cable, broadcast, and streaming networks, with a catalog of more than 3,000 episodes delivered to 21 networks including ESPN, A&E, Discovery, Animal Planet, HGTV, Food Network, Magnolia Network, TLC, Lifetime, and Oxygen. Flagship and long-running properties include Fixer to Fabulous (HGTV/Magnolia), Escaping Polygamy (Lifetime/A&E), Renovation Realities (DIY Network, 15 seasons), Trading Spaces (TLC), and Whale Wars (Animal Planet), with co-productions extending into children's programming via a partnership with Sesame Workshop. The company has won two Daytime Emmy Awards (Venice the Series, 2023) and earned additional Emmy nominations for Trading Spaces and Whale Wars.

The business operates across three branded units: RIVR Media (core television production), RIVR Films (episodic content for streaming platforms), and RIVR Studios (facilities and equipment rental). RIVR Studios provides a 1,500 sq ft studio with cyc wall, a home facade backlot, equipment inventory (Sony HD cameras, HMI/Kino/Tungsten lighting, CamMate booms, Fisher dollies), and post-production edit bays running Avid Media Composer with remote editing capability. A West Coast office opened in 2014 to support LA-based network development.

The revenue model is professional services and project-based: RIVR develops original concepts, pitches them to networks, and is commissioned to produce; ancillary revenue comes from facilities/equipment rental to third parties. The company is sales-led, B2B, and relies on direct network relationships, industry reputation, and a portfolio of credited shows. With approximately 20 employees and no disclosed external funding, RIVR is privately financed by founder Dee Haslam, who also co-owns the Cleveland Browns and is part of the Pilot Flying J ownership group.

Name

Rivr Media

Legal name

RIVR Media

Website

https://rivr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RIVR Media is a privately-held, Knoxville-based full-service television production company that has produced over 3,000 episodes for 21 cable and broadcast networks, with additional streaming, studio rental, and children's co-production lines of business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)

Keywords

• Television production
• Video production services
• Unscripted programming
• Post-production services
• Studio equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Television Production: Full-service production of television series for cable networks and streaming platforms. RIVR develops original programming concepts and produces commissioned content for networks including ESPN, A&E, Discovery, Animal Planet, HGTV, Food Network, Magnolia Network, and others.
2. Studio and Equipment Rental: Rental of studio space (1,500 sq ft with cyc wall), production equipment (cameras, lighting, grip, audio), truck packages, and facilities to external production companies, content creators, and marketers.
3. Post-Production Services: In-house editing services using Avid Media Composer, color correction, finishing, and remote editing station access. Can be used by client teams or managed by RIVR's award-winning editors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RIVR Media is a full-service television production company that develops, produces, and delivers original unscripted programming for cable networks, broadcast channels, and streaming platforms. The company operates three integrated business units: RIVR Media (core show development and network production), RIVR Studios (production facility and equipment rental including a 1,500 sq ft studio, Avid-based post-production bays, and camera/lighting/grip rentals), and RIVR Films (episodic storytelling for streaming/digital).

Product overview

RIVR Media operates as a full-service video production company with three primary offerings: RIVR Media (core television production for networks), RIVR Studios (production facilities and equipment rental including studio space, post-production edit bays, and equipment), and RIVR Films (episodic content for streaming platforms). The company has produced over 3,000 episodes across 21 networks including HGTV, A&E, Discovery, Animal Planet, Food Network, and Magnolia Network. Notable shows include Fixer to Fabulous, Escaping Polygamy, Whale Wars, Trading Spaces, Breaking Bland, Makeover By Monday, Super Dad, and Renovation Realities. RIVR Studios provides a 1,500 sq ft studio with cyc wall, equipment rental (Sony cameras, lighting), and post-production services using Avid Media Composer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RIVR Films: Full-service production house designed for episodic storytelling, delivering content for streaming platforms and traditional television.
• RIVR Studios

Products and services

• RIVR Media Television Production Full-service development and production of original unscripted television series for cable, broadcast, and streaming networks, spanning genres including home renovation, reality, documentary, food, and lifestyle programming.
• RIVR Studios Facility and Equipment Rental Studio space (1,500 sq ft with cyc wall and lighting grid), production equipment rental (Sony HD cameras including PXW-FS7, PXW-FS7M2, PXW-FX9, and A7s2; Kino, HMI, and Tungsten lighting; CamMate booms and Fisher dollies), truck packages, podcast support space, prep kitchen, conference room, dressing/makeup rooms, and a home facade backlot. Offered to external production companies, content creators, and marketers in East Tennessee.
• RIVR Studios Post-Production Services In-house edit bays equipped with Avid Media Composer, finishing and color correction capabilities, and remote edit stations enabling distributed collaboration. Available for client-led projects or managed by RIVR's award-winning editorial team.
• RIVR Films Episodic Production Full-service production house designed for episodic storytelling and film production for streaming platforms and traditional television, delivering scripts, production, post-production, and color/audio finishing in snackable binge-watch formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ episodes produced for 21 networks over 25+ years

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sesame WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIVR Media produces special partnership content with Sesame Workshop including Elmo and Tango Holiday Helpers (with HGTV star Jasmine Roth) and Oscar's Handmade Halloween (with Food Network star Sunny Anderson). These co-productions involve Sesame Street characters and aim to teach children about teamwork, kindness, and creativity through home renovation and crafting projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bunim-Murray Productions: Leading unscripted production company behind The Real World, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and Project Runway. RIVR team member Andrew Jedlicka previously worked there. Directly comparable as a network-commissioned unscripted production house.
• Magical Elves: Top Chef and Gag Reflex producer specializing in unscripted and competition reality programming for cable networks. Comparable to RIVR's reality/lifestyle production focus and network customer base.
• High Noon Entertainment: Denver-based independent unscripted production company producing Fixer Upper: Welcome Home, Trading Spaces (current), and competition/lifestyle programming for cable networks. Highly comparable peer in size, model, and customer roster.
• Jupiter Entertainment: Knoxville-based unscripted production company behind Snapped, Murder in the Heartland, and Wahlburgers. RIVR's CFO Julie Dean previously served as Director of Finance there. Direct regional and category peer.
• Leftfield Pictures: Unscripted production company producing Bravo, A&E, and Discovery content including Blood, Sweat & Heels and Pawn Stars. Comparable cable network production model and unscripted content slate.
• 51 Minds Entertainment: Unscripted production company behind The Surreal Life, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and Marriage Boot Camp. Comparable mid-sized independent producing reality programming for cable networks.
• Critical Content: Unscripted production company producing Catfish, The Runner, and ESPN 30 for 30 content. Comparable networked unscripted production model with sports and lifestyle programming.
• Original Media: Unscripted production company producing Ink Master, Storm Chasers, and Esquire Network programming. Comparable mid-sized independent reality/documentary producer for cable networks.

Broad incumbents

• Shine America (Endemol Shine): Large unscripted production group (MasterChef, The Biggest Loser) under Banijay. Adam Neal at RIVR previously served as VP of Development at Shine America. Comparable network-commissioned production model at larger scale.
• ITV America: ITV Studios subsidiary producing The Real Housewives, Hell's Kitchen, and other unscripted series for cable networks. Comparable business model producing national cable reality/lifestyle content at larger portfolio scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rivrmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/rivrmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Rivr Media