Heliconia

What Heliconia does

Heliconia is a privately-held Canadian outdoor adventure media company founded in 1996-1998 and headquartered in Beachburg, Ontario. It produces and distributes a portfolio of seven TV series spanning paddlesports (Facing Waves), hiking (Epic Trails), fishing (Road Trip Angler, Hook Line & History), urban adventure (Adventure Cities), family travel (Great Family Adventure), and outdoor cooking (Outdoor Eats). Each show is hosted by a recognized outdoor expert, and content is distributed to 100M+ US households through long-standing partnerships with Discovery Channel, PBS, FanDuel Sports Network, OutsideTV, Hulu, and Roku, generating 11,000-15,000+ broadcast airings per year across 100+ stations.

The company's product stack includes the proprietary Partner Portal (real-time campaign analytics, media asset library, distribution reporting), the In4Adventure.com expert blog platform, the Heliconia Advertising Platform (self-serve TV ad buying for outdoor audiences, launched 2024), and Sim4Adventure (an eSIM travel connectivity service launched April 2026 as a joint venture with Hubby eSIM). Heliconia also maintains 20+ YouTube channels, owned social communities totaling 650K+ followers, and a portfolio of digital platforms used to amplify partner messaging.

Revenue is generated through four B2B streams: TV advertising placements (15/30/60-second spots), brand partnerships (product integration and sponsored content for outdoor brands such as Mystery Ranch and NRS), tourism board partnerships (multi-series destination campaigns for organizations such as Alliance Quebec, Visit California, PROMPERU, and Jordan Tourism Board), and affiliate/promotional revenue from the Sim4Adventure eSIM product. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via dedicated Brand, Tourism, and Ad Sales managers pursuing direct outreach, industry events, and referrals. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; average contract values appear to range from mid-five to seven figures based on disclosed campaign media values.

Name

Heliconia

Legal name

Heliconia

Website

https://heliconia.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heliconia is a Canadian outdoor adventure media company that produces seven expert-hosted TV series distributed across 100+ US TV stations and digital platforms, monetizing through B2B advertising, brand partnerships, and tourism board campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor media production and adventure television broadcasting

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Travel & Adventure Documentaries (MPADADAM)

Keywords

• Outdoor media production
• Travel TV content
• Tourism marketing
• Brand partnership videos
• Adventure broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Beachburg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. TV Advertising: Commercial advertising spots (15, 30, 60 seconds) placed across Heliconia's outdoor programming on networks reaching 100+ million households across North America.
2. Brand Partnerships: Product placement, expert-led brand integration, and sponsored content within TV shows and digital channels. Brands like Mystery Ranch partner for new product launches and awareness campaigns.
3. Tourism Partnerships: Filming and content production partnerships with destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, and regional travel organizations. Includes photo/video assets and multi-platform distribution.
4. Sim4Adventure eSIM Partnership: Promotional partnership with Hubby eSIM to feature Sim4Adventure connectivity product across Heliconia's broadcast television, streaming and digital travel programming.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heliconia produces and distributes outdoor adventure and travel TV series (Epic Trails, Facing Waves, Road Trip Angler, Hook Line & History, Adventure Cities, Great Family Adventure, Outdoor Eats) across major US broadcast networks and digital platforms. It monetizes this content through B2B brand and tourism partnerships offering expert-led product integration, sponsored content, and turn-key multi-platform campaigns. It also operates a TV advertising platform, the In4adventure.com expert blog, and a proprietary Partner Portal for real-time performance reporting.

Product overview

Heliconia is a Canadian award-winning media company that produces and distributes outdoor adventure and travel TV content. The company operates a portfolio of seven unique TV series (Epic Trails, Facing Waves, Road Trip Angler, Hook Line & History, Adventure Cities, Great Family Adventure, Outdoor Eats), distributed to over 100M US TV households on platforms like Discovery Channel, PBS, FanDuel Sports Network, and OutsideTV. The product suite includes the In4adventure.com expert-led online blog, the Sim4Adventure eSIM travel connectivity service (via Hubby eSIM partnership), the Heliconia Advertising Platform for TV ad campaigns, and the Partner Portal for real-time analytics and media asset access. Brand and tourism partners can engage through expert-led awareness campaigns, new product launches, commercial integrations, and digital amplification services. The company has been in business for over 25 years with omnichannel distribution across TV, YouTube, social media, and blogs, reaching over 650K followers and viewers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Adventure Cities: Adventure Cities is an urban adventure travel TV series hosted by Jonathan Thompson, showcasing the world's most fascinating urban centers from a fresh perspective.
• Epic Trails
• Facing Waves
• Road Trip Angler
• Outdoor Eats
• Great Family Adventure
• Hook, Line & History
• PaddleTV
• In4Adventure.com

Products and services

• Epic Trails A hiking and backpacking adventure travel TV series hosted by Mike Fink, showcasing trails and outdoor destinations. Distributed across major US networks (Discovery Channel, PBS, FanDuel Sports Network, OutsideTV) reaching 100M+ households.
• Facing Waves An international paddlesports TV series hosted by world champion Ken Whiting, dedicated to kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding adventures around the world.
• Road Trip Angler An adventure fishing TV series hosted by Jameson Redding, combining fishing content with travel storytelling across fishing destinations.
• Hook, Line & History A fishing and heritage TV series hosted by Ashley Nichole Lewis (Bad Ash), showcasing ancestral wisdom, environmental stewardship, and accessible outdoor adventures.
• Adventure Cities An urban adventure travel TV series hosted by Jonathan Thompson, exploring the world's urban centers from an outdoor-adventure perspective.
• Great Family Adventure A family-focused adventure travel TV series showcasing outdoor experiences and activities for families.
• Outdoor Eats An outdoor cooking and food tourism TV series hosted by Chef Corso, featuring culinary adventures in nature.
• Heliconia Advertising Platform A television advertising platform offering targeted awareness campaigns (15, 30, 60-second spots) across North America's top TV networks, with 11,000+ broadcast airings annually reaching outdoor adventure and travel audiences.
• In4adventure.com An expert-led online blog platform aimed at encouraging outdoor lifestyles, featuring gear reviews, articles, and expert advice on outdoor destinations and equipment.
• Heliconia Partner Portal A real-time analytics portal providing brand and tourism partners transparent metrics, network airing schedules, media assets, impression and viewership reports, and social media reach and engagement statistics.
• Sim4Adventure An eSIM solution launched in partnership with Hubby eSIM that lets travelers access affordable mobile data in over 200 countries without swapping physical SIM cards; part of the In4Adventure platform.
• Two Worlds, One Journey A short documentary film exploring Indigenous healing through connection with the land, produced in partnership with Tourism Canmore Kananaskis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 188.56M viewers reached for Alliance Quebec campaign across 8,421 airings with $18.93M media value
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hubby eSIMcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2026Partnership to launch Sim4Adventure, an eSIM solution for travelers. The product will be promoted across Heliconia's broadcast television, streaming and digital travel programming, directly reaching engaged adventure travelers who need connectivity solutions while traveling.
• Tourism Canmore KananaskiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2023Partnership to produce the documentary 'Two Worlds, One Journey' showcasing Indigenous healing and experiential tourism in the Canmore and Kananaskis region of Alberta, Canada. Film premiered on National Indigenous People's Day.
• Discovery ChannelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor US broadcast network distribution partner for Facing Waves and other Heliconia series, reaching millions of US households.
• PBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic television distribution partner airing Heliconia content across 105+ US markets.
• FanDuel Sports NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS regional sports network (formerly Bally Sports) distributing Heliconia outdoor adventure content across 16 regional networks.
• OutsideTVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor-focused streaming and TV network partner distributing Heliconia adventure content.
• Mystery RanchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor backpack brand partnership for new product launch campaigns, content creation, and commercial placement across Epic Trails series. Achieved 72M+ viewers and $3.5M commercial value.
• Alliance de l'Industrie Touristique du QuébeccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partnership for Quebec province featuring multiple series (Facing Waves, Epic Trails, Adventure Cities, Great Family Adventure) with 188.56M estimated viewership and $18.93M media value across 8,421 airings.
• NRS (Northwest River Supplies)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership (over a decade) for content development, distribution, and digital engagement in the paddlesports space.
• Visit CaliforniamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerState tourism board partnership for Epic Trails episodes showcasing California outdoor destinations.
• PROMPERUmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeru tourism board partnership spanning multiple filming visits and projects to promote Peru as a tourism destination.
• Jordan Tourism BoardmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partnership since 2015 with five travel episodes featuring Jordan across Heliconia series, including recent Discovery Channel and Outside Television premiere.
• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaddling destination promotion through Facing Waves series featuring U.S. Virgin Islands as a top paddling destination.
• P&H Kayaks / PyranahaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKayak manufacturer partnership for content creation and paddlesports community engagement.
• ExOfficiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor apparel brand partnership through Kayak Fishing series for brand building and awareness.
• Adventure Travel Conservation FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit conservation organization partnership including TV airing of evergreen video and support for Travel Conservation Auction that raised $153,732.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Teton Gravity Research: US-based outdoor and adventure sports content and film production company with ski, mountain biking and action-adventure video series distributed across TV and digital channels. Most directly comparable to Heliconia in producing expert-hosted, brand-supported outdoor adventure video content sold to networks and sponsors.
• MeatEater: Steven Rinella's outdoor hunting, fishing and cooking content brand producing video series distributed on Netflix and YouTube with brand partnerships in outdoor gear. Closely mirrors Heliconia's model of expert-hosted outdoor adventure video content plus omnichannel distribution and brand sponsorship revenue.
• Matador Network: Travel and adventure content media company publishing editorial, video, and social storytelling with a network of creators, monetized via brand partnerships and tourism-board relationships. Comparable in producing travel-adventure content for outdoor audiences and selling it to tourism/brand partners.

Broad incumbents

• Red Bull Media House: Global media arm of Red Bull producing extreme sports and adventure content distributed via Red Bull TV and partner networks. Comparably produces expert-athlete outdoor/adventure content for advertisers and broadcasters but at vastly larger scale and with in-house talent rather than independent producers.
• Outside (Outside Inc.): Multi-platform outdoor media company operating Outside Magazine, OutsideTV, Backpacker, and other titles with deep outdoor-brand advertising business. Directly comparable as a multi-channel outdoor media enterprise; OutsideTV is also one of Heliconia's distribution partners, indicating adjacent business models.
• Lonely Planet: Global travel content and guidebook publisher producing original travel media and licensing it to tourism boards, brands, and platforms. Comparable as a long-standing travel-content brand monetizing via tourism-board and brand partnerships, though heavier on editorial and print than video.
• National Geographic Travel: Massive global travel and adventure-content division producing documentary television, editorial, and digital media for tourism boards and travel sponsors. Comparable as a travel-and-adventure documentary producer with destination-marketing partnerships, though vastly larger, owned by Disney and historically subsidized.
• Travel + Leisure: Established US travel magazine and digital media brand publishing destination content for tourism boards and travel advertisers. Comparable in selling travel-adventure storytelling to destination marketing organizations and travel brands, albeit at the editorial rather than television-production level.

Emerging players

• AFAR Media: Independent experiential travel media brand producing editorial, video and events marketed to affluent travelers, with tourism-board and brand partnerships. Comparable in producing travel storytelling content sold to destination and brand partners, though more premium-travel than outdoor-adventure focused.
• Switchback Travel: Independent outdoor gear review and adventure content site publishing expert-written reviews, buyer guides, and travel content with brand partnerships. Comparable in monetizing outdoor-adventure content via brand relationships, though primarily text/video web rather than broadcast TV.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HeliconiaProductions
• Facebookfacebook.com/heliconiaproductions
• Instagraminstagram.com/heliconiaproductions
• TikToktiktok.com/@heliconiaproductions
• Xx.com/Helipress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Heliconia