Telltale

What Telltale does

Telltale (trading as TellTale Industries) is a privately held UK media production company founded in 2021 and headquartered in London and Brighton, with operations extending into North America. The company specializes in audio-first factual storytelling, producing podcasts and radio content that it subsequently develops into television and film formats. It combines institutional-grade fact-checking with cinematic production values, serving three principal customer types: cultural and scientific brands seeking authentic storytelling, media platforms requiring fact-checked factual content, and individuals with extraordinary stories lacking professional production and distribution access.

Telltale's product portfolio spans four interconnected offerings: Audio Production (podcasts and radio content as the foundation of the pipeline), Television Production (factual programmes and documentaries derived from audio IP), Brand Storytelling (a service for cultural and scientific organizations to surface and distribute their stories), and Format Development (an accumulating IP catalogue being developed into television and film formats for worldwide licensing). Its competitive positioning rests on access to world-class talent (scientists, historians, writers, comedians), a structured fact-checking methodology, and a growing catalogue of screen-ready IP.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining professional services (commissioned audio and brand storytelling projects) with IP licensing and royalties from broadcast and streaming distribution. Distribution is achieved through partnerships with HBO (designated flagship), Channel 4, CBC, BBC World Service, Audible, Podimo, YouTube, and a co-development relationship with The British Museum. The company is led by Founder/CEO Jago Lee, has a North American Partner (Stuart Coxe), an Advisory Board chaired by James Baker, and operates with a small team of 11-50. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Telltale

Website

https://telltaleindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Telltale is a UK-based factual media production company that produces audio-first storytelling (podcasts and radio) and develops it into television and film formats, serving cultural and scientific brands, media platforms, and individuals with extraordinary stories through global broadcaster partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio and Television Production Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Industries (5122), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB), Reality & Factual Entertainment (Unscripted) (MPADADAO)

Keywords

• Audio storytelling production
• Podcast production services
• Factual television content
• Brand storytelling partnerships
• Media production studio

Headquarters

HQ city

London / Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Audio content production: Production of podcasts and audio content for brands, media platforms, and individuals with extraordinary stories
2. Television and film IP licensing: Developing curated IP into formats for television and film worldwide, licensing content to broadcasters
3. Brand storytelling partnerships: Finding and producing stories within cultural and scientific brands, distributing through podcasts, radio and TV

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

TellTale is an audio-first factual storytelling production company that creates podcasts, radio, and television content. It develops IP through an audio-to-TV pipeline, partners with global broadcasters and streaming platforms for distribution, and produces brand storytelling content for cultural and scientific organizations. The company combines institutional-grade fact-checking with cinematic production values to deliver fact-checked narratives to global audiences.

Product overview

TellTale is an audio-first media production company specializing in factual storytelling. The company operates with a multi-format portfolio approach, producing content across four interconnected offerings: Audio Production (podcasts and radio content), Television Production (factual shows and documentaries), Brand Storytelling services (finding and developing stories within cultural and scientific organizations), and Format Development (building an IP catalogue for TV and film worldwide). The company combines institutional-grade fact-checking with cinematic production values and digital distribution to reach global audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audio Production Audio-first storytelling production creating podcasts and radio content as the foundation of TellTale's narrative approach, which then transitions to visual media. Targeted at brands, media platforms, and individuals with extraordinary stories.
• Television Production Television productions developed from audio IP, including factual stories and documentary content distributed across major networks and streaming platforms. Targets broadcasters such as HBO, Channel 4, CBC, and BBC World Service.
• Brand Storytelling Finding and developing stories within cultural and scientific brands, then distributing them through podcasts, radio, and television channels. Targeted at cultural institutions and scientific organizations.
• Format Development and IP Licensing Curating and developing an extensive catalogue of intellectual property into formats for television and film worldwide, with content licensed to broadcasters and streaming platforms.

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• YouTubecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVideo distribution platform for TellTale content. Content published and distributed through YouTube channel to reach global audiences.
• Channel 4coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK public service broadcaster. Distribution partner for television content development and broadcast.
• CBCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian public broadcaster. Distribution partner for factual storytelling content in Canada.
• BBC World ServicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational multimedia broadcaster. Distribution partner for global audio and factual content.
• HBOflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium cable network. Flagship distribution partner for television content development and broadcast.
• AudiblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon-owned audio content platform. Distribution partner for podcast and audio content.
• PodimocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPodcast platform. Distribution partner for audio content in European markets.
• The British MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution with rich stories within its collections. TellTale finds and develops stories from the museum into podcasts, radio and TV content.
• Stuart Coxe (North American Partner)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStuart Coxe serves as North American Partner, representing TellTale and managing partnerships in the North American market.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BBC Studios: In-house production arm of the BBC producing premium factual TV and global formats; overlaps with Telltale on factual storytelling and is simultaneously a Telltale distribution partner (BBC World Service).
• Audible Originals: Amazon-owned premium audio content label commissioning original podcasts and audiobooks; also a Telltale distribution partner, making it both a competitor for talent and a customer.
• Spotify Studios: Streaming platform that has vertically integrated into podcast production and exclusive deals (e.g., The Joe Rogan Experience, Gimlet), competing for the same factual narrative audiences Telltale targets.

Direct peers

• Somethin' Else: UK-based audio-first production company producing podcasts, radio and branded audio for global brands and broadcasters — a direct functional peer to Telltale in factual audio production.
• Wondery: Amazon-owned podcast studio that produces high-end narrative audio and has explicitly pursued a podcast-to-TV/film adaptation pipeline, mirroring Telltale's audio-first IP development model.
• Audioboom: Podcast hosting and production platform that produces and distributes original podcasts for global brands and platforms, overlapping with Telltale's podcast production and platform-distribution model.
• Pushkin Industries: Premium podcast production company co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell, producing narrative and factual podcasts with extensions into books and screen adaptations — a strong analogue to Telltale's audio-first IP strategy.
• Gimlet Media: Narrative podcast studio (now Spotify-owned) that develops story-led audio IP with ambitions to extend hits into screen formats, making it a close analogue to Telltale's audio-first factual model.

Emerging players

• Lejon Media: Independent UK factual podcast production studio developing documentary-style audio content for broadcasters and platforms — an emerging niche competitor in Telltale's factual storytelling space.

Regional players

• PRX (Public Radio Exchange): US public-radio-backed podcast network and producer of award-winning narrative podcasts, comparable as a non-commercial factual-audio production model with global distribution ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/telltaleindustries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Telltale