What Michael Levitt Productions does

Michael Levitt Productions (MLP) is a privately held, Los Angeles-based television and media production company founded in 2000 by Emmy-nominated showman Michael Levitt. The company specializes in unscripted content — reality series, live event specials, competition formats, awards shows, reunion specials, and holiday-themed programming — sold on a B2B basis to broadcast networks and streaming platforms. Its most differentiated franchise pillar is dog rescue-themed programming (American Rescue Dog Show, Stanley Pup, Fox's Cause for Paws, All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration), with Levitt personally credited with placing over 500 rescue dogs in homes over a decade and operating three rescue pit bulls himself (Trooper, Nelson, Archie). Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees with operational back-office support provided by the Hutson Company (Adam Hutson) under a partnership established in 2015.

The company's commercial model is one-time licensing and production fees earned from commissioning networks (TLC, ABC, Fox, CBS, CW, Disney Channel, Freeform, HGTV, GSN, VH1, Bravo, OWN, Hallmark, Univision, iHeart) and streaming platforms (Discovery+, MAX, ESPN+). MLP does not sell to end consumers; audiences are reached through its network and platform partners. Notable productions include the Michael Jackson Memorial (2009, approximately 3 billion viewers worldwide, NAACP Image Award), Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Emmy-winning), Skin Wars (GSN's most-watched original series), and the Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash (Freeform's most-watched telecast at time of broadcast with 1.67M viewers). The catalog spans roughly 40 productions across genres including award ceremonies, competition formats, reunion specials, and live concerts.

Recent activity (2024-2025) includes the launch of Baylen Out Loud on TLC/MAX, the first-ever Stanley Pup co-production with NHL Productions and Petco Love on ESPN+/NHL Network/Sportsnet, and ongoing franchise renewals of the American Rescue Dog Show (now on ABC after earlier Hallmark runs). The company is privately held with no institutional investors, parent company, or public funding disclosed; Michael Levitt serves as President and Executive Producer and is the central creative force. Distribution is concentrated in North America, with the 2024 Sportsnet (Canada) partnership representing the first identified cross-border arrangement.

Name

Michael Levitt Productions

Legal name

Michael Levitt Productions

Website

https://michaellevittproductions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michael Levitt Productions is a privately held, Los Angeles-based unscripted TV production company founded in 2000 that produces reality series, live events, competition formats, and award shows for broadcast networks and streaming platforms including TLC, ABC, ESPN+, Fox, and Freeform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. TV/Streaming Content Licensing and Production Fees: MLP produces TV specials, reality series, live events, and competition formats that are licensed or commissioned by broadcast networks and streaming platforms. Revenue is generated through production fees, licensing deals, and format sales to networks such as ABC, TLC, ESPN+, Discovery+, Freeform, HGTV, and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Michael Levitt Productions is an independent television production company that creates unscripted content — reality competition series, live event specials, awards show telecasts, reunion specials, and dog-rescue-themed annual franchises — and licenses or commissions those productions to broadcast networks (ABC, TLC, FOX, Freeform, HGTV, etc.) and streaming platforms (ESPN+, Discovery+, MAX). Each show is a discrete, commissioned or licensed deliverable produced end-to-end by the company, leveraging founder Michael Levitt's celebrity relationships and recurring franchise IP.

Product overview

Michael Levitt Productions is a Los Angeles-based television and film production company specializing in unscripted content, live events, reality series, and annual franchises. The company produces a diverse portfolio including reality competition series (Baylen Out Loud, Meet Your Makers Showdown, Wrap Battle), dog rescue specials (American Rescue Dog Show, Stanley Pup, All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration, Fox's Cause for Paws), awards shows (Daytime Emmy Awards, TV Land Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Young Hollywood Awards), reunion specials (Dallas Reunion, Dynasty Reunion, Knots Landing Reunion), holiday programming (Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary, 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest, Disney Channel's Epic Holiday Showdown), concert specials (Michael Jackson Memorial, Britney Spears specials, iHeart Summer Weekend), game shows (Hollywood Squares, Window Warriors), and docuseries (World's Smallest Woman: Meet Jyoti, Rentervention). The company is known for its commitment to dog rescue advocacy and has placed rescue dogs in homes through its themed programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baylen Out Loud Docuseries following Baylen Dupree, a 22-year-old TikTok star with Tourette Syndrome (9.5M TikTok followers), as she navigates daily life with uncontrollable vocal and motor tics while becoming an independent adult in West Virginia; licensed to TLC with next-day streaming on MAX.
• Stanley Pup First-ever 90-minute NHL canine competition special featuring rescue dogs representing all 32 NHL teams in a friendly competition, with most dogs available for adoption through Petco Love partnership.
• American Rescue Dog Show Annual dog competition featuring rescued companions competing for 'Best In' titles including Best In Underbite, Best In Snoring, Best In Belly Rubs, and Best In Rescue; the 2019 edition on Hallmark drew 1.1M combined average viewers and outperformed America's longest-running purebred dog competition.
• Meet Your Makers Showdown Crafting competition series on Discovery+ in which four of the country's best makers compete in two challenges weekly for $10,000 and the title of Maker Champion; hosted by Chrissy Metz with judges LeAnn Rimes and Mark Montano.
• Disney Channel's Epic Holiday Showdown Disney Channel holiday challenge special where Disney Channel stars take on challenges to lift Ebenezer Scrooge's curse on Christmas, hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner as Santa and Mrs. Claus.
• Rentervention HGTV design show for renters in which two renters at the same apartment complex are paired with two top designers for a rental makeover in 48 hours, with the winning renter receiving 6 months free rent.
• World's Smallest Woman: Meet Jyoti Docuseries following 26-year-old Jyoti Amge, the world's smallest woman at 24 inches tall, as she and her family visit the U.S. from India to explore American culture and seek medical treatment.
• Wrap Battle Gift-wrapping competition series for Freeform in which host Sheryl Underwood and judges Carson Kressley and Wanda Wen search for America's top gift wrapper.
• 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest All-star Halloween party special for Freeform celebrating Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family, with Ghostbusters 35th anniversary and Haunted Mansion 50th anniversary tributes; hosted by Vanessa Hudgens and Jordan Fisher.
• Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash Freeform special celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disney's Hocus Pocus, filmed at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and drawing 1.67M total viewers (Live + 3 Day), becoming the most-watched telecast in Freeform's history at the time.
• Skin Wars GSN's television-first body painting competition series and the network's most-watched original series ever; hosted by Rebecca Romijn with judges including RuPaul, Craig Tracy, and Robin Slonina; nominated for the 2016 Critics' Choice Award for Best Reality Competition Series.
• Skin Wars: Fresh Paint GSN spin-off of Skin Wars in which former contestants mentor artists new to painting on a human canvas, competing for a $10,000 prize.
• Window Warriors GSN visual-merchandising competition series in which window designers compete to create high-profile holiday displays at major department stores.
• Daytime Emmy Awards Annual ceremony honoring exceptional work in daytime broadcasting; Levitt executive produced the 2015 ceremony on Pop TV that returned the show to broadcast television after a year off-air, hosted by Tyra Banks with a Lifetime Achievement Award to Betty White.
• TV Land Awards TV Land awards show commemorating classic television shows from the 1950s to the modern era, with categories including Pop Culture, Legend, Pioneer, and Lucille Ball Legacy of Laughter.
• All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration Network television's first prime-time Thanksgiving Day telecast devoted to animal rescue, hosted annually by Kaley Cuoco with Miley Cyrus, Chelsea Handler, Cesar Millan, and Kathy Griffin.
• Fox's Cause for Paws History-making Thanksgiving 2014 FOX special that was network television's first prime-time telecast devoted to animal rescue, hosted by Jane Lynch and Hilary Swank with Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, and Pink.
• Radio Disney Music Awards Annual Disney Channel awards show honoring achievements in teen-pop, featuring the 'Golden Mickey' trophy and past performers including Nick Jonas, Ariana Grande, Zendaya, and Fifth Harmony.
• Young Hollywood Awards The CW awards show honoring achievements in youth and teen stars in pop music, movies, sports, television, and fashion as voted by 13–19 year olds.
• America's Money Class with Suze Orman OWN hour-long documentary series in which Suze Orman hosts a money class answering difficult questions about debt, home buying, investing, and retirement.
• E! Live from the Red Carpet Live arrival, exclusive interview, and red-carpet coverage for Hollywood premieres and award shows on E! Entertainment, hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
• Producers Guild Awards Producers Guild of America Awards honoring motion picture and television producers; considered a barometer for Emmy and Academy Award outcomes.
• Scream Awards Spike TV annual awards show (2006–2011) honoring the best of science-fiction, fantasy, and horror in movies, television, and comic books, featuring live performances.
• Disney's Make Your Mark Disney Channel's first-ever talent competition exclusively for kids and tweens, with viewer participation via uploaded dance videos; grand prize included a performance in Disney Channel's 'Shake It Up.'
• Ask Oprah's All-Stars OWN interactive special featuring Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and Suze Orman answering viewer questions on finance, mental and physical health; first show broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network (January 1, 2011), produced for Mark Burnett Productions.
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Bravo Emmy Award-winning reality series following comedian Kathy Griffin as she tries to climb from the D-List, with appearances by Suzanne Somers, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, and Paris Hilton.
• Michael Jackson Memorial Memorial broadcast special featuring Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, and Queen Latifah paying tribute to Michael Jackson; reached nearly 3 billion viewers worldwide and won an NAACP Image Award (for Levitt, Ken Ehrlich, and Kenny Ortega).
• Tecate Premios Deportes Univision awards show held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles honoring greatest Latino sports figures across basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, and cycling.
• Game Show Awards GSN awards show honoring classic and modern game shows, hosted by Howie Mandel with $100,000 in prizes; honorees included Bob Barker, Betty White, and Monty Hall.
• Bravo's A-List Awards Bravo pop-culture celebration hosted by Kathy Griffin and featuring Justin Timberlake, Neil Patrick Harris, Kelly Rowland, Andy Cohen, and Rachel Zoe.
• World Music Awards International awards show honoring biggest global-selling artists in rap, pop, dance, R&B, and rock, held in Monte Carlo, Hollywood, London, and Las Vegas; performers included Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Céline Dion.
• Celebrity Duets FOX reality competition pairing celebrities with music superstars for duet performances, produced with Simon Cowell and Arthur Smith; judges included David Foster, Marie Osmond, and Little Richard; hosted by Wayne Brady for one season.
• Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar CBS reunion special reuniting the original cast of the 1980s prime-time soap including Joan Collins, John Forsythe, Linda Evans, and Pamela Sue Martin; shot at Filoli Mansion near San Francisco.
• Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again CBS reunion special reuniting the original cast of the 1980s prime-time soap at Seaview Circle, featuring Alec Baldwin and Nicollette Sheridan in pre-taped segments.
• Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion Two-hour CBS reunion spectacular bringing together the entire original Happy Days cast including Henry Winkler, Ron Howard, Tom Bosley, and Scott Baio to play softball and share stories.
• Billboard Music Awards Fox's annual music awards ceremony honoring most successful music artists based on Billboard Magazine chart performance, taped annually at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and hosted by Ryan Seacrest and LL Cool J.
• Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork CBS reunion special reuniting the entire original cast of the iconic prime-time soap at Dallas' Southfork Ranch; first collaboration between Michael Levitt and Henry Winkler.
• Hollywood Squares Final seasons of the famous game show hosted by Tom Bergeron (who won a Daytime Emmy for the role); Michael Levitt served as final Executive Producer in partnership with Henry Winkler.
• VH1 Fashion Awards VH1 annual awards show celebrating the year's finest fashion designers and models with music performances; featured Madonna, Tom Ford, Tyson Beckford, and Elton John through the late 1990s.
• Nick at Nite Holiday Special Nick at Nite holiday celebration in the style of classic 1960s and 1970s variety television with performances by Natalie Cole, Sarah McLachlan, Chaka Khan, and Kenny Loggins.
• NCLR Alma Awards Annual awards show created by the National Council of La Raza highlighting best American Latino contributions to music, television, and film, hosted by Eva Longoria.
• iHeart Summer '17 Weekend Summer concert celebration featuring musical acts including Miley Cyrus, Backstreet Boys, DJ Khaled, Fifth Harmony, Halsey, and others.
• Britney in Hawaii One-hour TV special including a Waikiki concert and Hawaiian excursions, taped at Hilton Hawaiian Village with performances by Destiny's Child and Joe.
• Britney Spears: No Place Like Home Top-rated one-hour special featuring pop superstar Britney Spears' return to Kentwood, Louisiana performing at the Louisiana Superdome.
• 'NSYNC 'Ntimate Holiday Special One-hour concert special in which 'NSYNC performed hits and holiday favorites, filmed on the last night of Britney Spears' 'Oops Tour' in New Orleans.

Quantifiable outcome

• American Rescue Dog Show delivered 1.1M combined average viewers in 2019 and outperformed America's longest-running purebred dog competition for the second year in a row.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Project Angel FoodminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2024Project Angel Food's benefit broadcast special 'Lead with Love' featured MLP-produced star appearances including a 'Full House' reunion with John Stamos and Lori Loughlin. MLP is listed as a client partner on Project Angel Food materials.
• NHL ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MLP co-produced the first-ever Stanley Pup with NHL Productions — a 90-minute program featuring a canine competition with all 32 NHL teams represented by rescue dogs. Premiered on NHL Network, ESPN+, and Sportsnet in Canada.
• Petco LovecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Petco Love partnered with NHL and MLP on Stanley Pup to promote animal adoption, with many of the competing dogs available for adoption from shelters and rescue groups through Petco Love's network.
• San Diego Humane SocietycoreOthers · 1 January 2022Winner of the American Rescue Dog Show 'Best in Rescue' 2022 (Capone the Pit Bull) received a $100,000 grant for the San Diego Humane Society. The San Diego Humane Society is a key beneficiary of MLP's dog rescue programming.
• Pedigree (Pet Nutrition Company)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Pedigree was a presenting sponsor of the American Rescue Dog Show (Hallmark Channel, 2020), helping to promote pet adoption and shelter dogs through the programming.
• Hutson CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015Adam Hutson's Hutson Company manages the business side of MLP's productions, handling business management, accounting, and operations. Founded in 2015, it enables MLP to focus on creative production. A portion of Hutson Company profits are donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and San Diego Zoo Global.
• Mark Burnett ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011MLP produced 'Ask Oprah's All-Stars' (OWN) for Mark Burnett Productions. This was the first show broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network on January 1, 2011, featuring Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and Suze Orman.
• Ken Ehrlich ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009MLP produced the Michael Jackson Memorial for Ken Ehrlich Productions. Nearly 3 billion viewers worldwide watched the live telecast. Levitt won a NAACP Image Award for producing the show with Ken Ehrlich and Kenny Ortega.
• Simon Cowell and Arthur SmithmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005MLP produced Celebrity Duets (FOX) in partnership with Simon Cowell and Arthur Smith — a reality competition series pairing celebrities with music superstars for duets performances.
• Henry WinklermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Michael Levitt formed a long producing relationship with Henry Winkler (co-executive producer), beginning with Hollywood Squares (final two seasons 2002-2004) and continuing through at least four reunion specials: Dallas Reunion, Knots Landing Reunion, Dynasty Reunion, and Happy Days Reunion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leftfield Entertainment: Producer of unscripted series including Pawn Stars and Love & Hip Hop. Operates as a mid-sized independent selling reality formats to cable networks, directly comparable to MLP's GTM.
• Magical Elves: Mid-sized unscripted production company behind Top Chef and several Bravo/Food Network hits. Closely comparable scale and structure, competing for the same cable/streaming unscripted commissions.
• High Noon Entertainment: Independent unscripted producer behind competition series such as Fixer Upper: Welcome Home and Iron Chef Gauntlet. Similar mid-size footprint competing for cable network commissions.
• Sharp Entertainment: Mid-Atlantic and NYC-based unscripted production company (TLC, Discovery, A&E) producing docuseries and reality competition formats. Closely comparable in target customer base and format focus.
• Bunim/Murray Productions: Independent unscripted production company behind The Real World, Project Runway, and numerous reality competition series. Directly comparable in business model (B2B unscripted production for networks/streamers) and target customer base.
• Authentic Entertainment: Independent producer of unscripted content (Todd & the Book of Pure Evil, Million Dollar Decorators). Mid-sized competitor with similar cable/streaming customer base.
• 51 Minds Entertainment: Reality and unscripted production company behind VH1's celebrity reality franchises (The Surreal Life, Rock of Love). Comparable mid-sized competitor in the cable reality market.
• ITV America: US unscripted production arm of ITV Studios producing formats like Hell's Kitchen Kitchen and Pawn Stars. Comparable scale and cable-network customer base, with the added backing of a major international broadcaster.

Broad incumbents

• Banijay Americas: Global content producer behind Survivor, Big Brother, and MasterChef. A broad incumbent competing in the same unscripted production market as MLP but with global scale and a deep owned-IP library.
• Fremantle: One of the largest global production groups (American Idol, The X Factor, Got Talent). Operates broadly in the same space as MLP but at vastly greater scale and with deep international format-licensing infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michael-levitt-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Michael Levitt Productions