What Be Afraid Media does

Be Afraid Media, Inc. is a Santa Monica-based, privately held, fan-owned horror media company that operates an integrated portfolio across digital publishing, free ad-supported streaming (FAST), podcasting, original film and television production, IP licensing, and live events. The company was founded on January 6, 2026 by Brad Miska (founder of Bloody Disgusting and producer of V/H/S and Terrifier 3), Heather Luttrell (CEO, previously co-owner of Bloody Disgusting and founder of IndieClick), and Peter Luttrell, and launched through the acquisition of Dread Central (a digital horror news outlet operating since 2006) and DreadTV (a 24/7 horror FAST channel) from Epic Pictures, with a multi-year streaming distribution agreement and Epic's CEO Patrick Ewald joining the board. The company subsequently acquired the Creepy podcast in June 2026 and appointed its host Jon Grilz as Head of Podcasts, building out the Be Afraid Podcast Network to twelve shows including Post Mortem with Mick Garris, Dark Sanctum, and others. The company produces original content including the feature film The Heretiks and operates live event programming in partnership with Night Frights LA.

The business model spans six revenue streams: digital advertising on Dread Central and Be Afraid Media properties, FAST channel distribution on Plex, TCL, Roku, and Fire TV, premium ad sales and sponsorships across the podcast network, film and television production and distribution, IP licensing and merchandising, and live events. Be Afraid serves three primary customer segments: horror fans/genre enthusiasts (the audience and commerce consumer base), horror podcast creators (B2B supply-side partners in the podcast network), and brand advertisers (enterprise buyers of integrated cross-platform campaigns). Distribution is global via owned digital properties and third-party platforms, with live events concentrated in Los Angeles. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, no disclosed headcount, and no disclosed revenue or ARR figures.

Name

Be Afraid Media

Legal name

Be Afraid Media, Inc.

Website

https://beafraidmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Be Afraid Media is a fan-owned horror media company operating an integrated portfolio across digital publishing (Dread Central), FAST streaming (Be Afraid TV), a 12-show podcast network, original film/TV production, and live events, serving horror fans, podcast creators, and brand advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Publishing & Advertising: Revenue generated from digital advertising across Dread Central's editorial platform and Be Afraid Media's digital properties, including display ads, sponsored content, and programmatic advertising.
2. Streaming Distribution: Revenue from 24/7 FAST channel distribution (Be Afraid TV) through platforms like Plex, TCL, Roku, Fire TV, and other FAST outlets. Includes multi-year streaming distribution agreement with Epic Pictures.
3. Podcast Network & Sponsorships: Premium ad sales and sponsorships across 12 shows in the Be Afraid Podcast Network, including cross-show bundling for brand deals, higher fill rates, and stronger CPMs through the company's ad stack.
4. Film & Television Production: Original horror features and series development under the Be Afraid banner, including production of The Heretiks and additional projects in development. Revenue from distribution deals and production financing.
5. Licensing & IP: Franchise development and brand expansion through licensing deals, IP development, and merchandising. Direct-to-fan monetization through commerce.
6. Live Events: Revenue opportunities from live events, screenings, and fan experiences including partnership with Night Frights LA for horror festivals and monthly screenings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Be Afraid Media is a multi-platform horror media company that produces, aggregates, and distributes horror content across digital publishing (Dread Central), 24/7 FAST streaming (Be Afraid TV), a twelve-show podcast network, and original film/TV production. The company monetizes through digital advertising, streaming distribution, podcast sponsorships, content licensing, IP development, and direct-to-fan commerce, serving both genre audiences and brand/creator partners.

Product overview

Be Afraid Media is a horror media company operating a multi-platform portfolio across publishing, streaming, audio, film/TV, licensing, and commerce. The core platform consists of three main brands: Dread Central (acquired flagship horror news site established 2006), Be Afraid TV (24/7 FAST streaming channel), and Be Afraid Podcast Network (12-show audio network). The company produces original content including The Heretiks feature film and hosts individual podcast shows like CREEPY, Post Mortem with Mick Garris, Dark Sanctum, and others. The ecosystem spans digital publishing, 24/7 streaming distribution, recurring audio engagement, film & television production, licensing/IP development, and direct-to-fan commerce.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dread Central: The internet's premier destination for horror news, reviews, interviews, and everything dark. Serving the horror community since 2006.
• Be Afraid TV
• Be Afraid Podcast Network

Products and services

• Dread Central Digital horror news site with reviews, interviews, and editorial content serving the horror community since 2006. Be Afraid Media's flagship publishing brand providing genre authority and editorial reach.
• Be Afraid TV 24/7 horror entertainment FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel offering curated non-stop genre content. Available free on Plex, TCL, Roku, Fire TV, and other popular FAST outlets.
• Be Afraid Podcast Network Horror podcast network featuring twelve shows including CREEPY, Post Mortem with Mick Garris, Dark Sanctum, and others. Provides multi-platform distribution, monetization through ad sales and sponsorships, and expansion opportunities including video, FAST, and live events.
• The Heretiks Be Afraid Media's first original feature film: a Halloween-set supernatural thriller from director Gregg Bishop (Dance of the Dead, SiREN) and writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (Hellraiser, The Night House). Co-produced with Bleiberg Entertainment and Chris White.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30M+ direct audience reach
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Epic PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 January 2026Be Afraid Media acquired Dread Central and DreadTV from Epic Pictures. As part of the transaction, Patrick Ewald (CEO of Epic Pictures) was appointed to Be Afraid Media's Board of Directors. The acquisition included a multi-year streaming distribution agreement with Epic Pictures for DreadTV content.
• Night Frights LAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBe Afraid Podcast Network is partnered with Night Frights LA, an independent horror collective behind a flagship festival at the Los Angeles Convention Center each fall, plus monthly screenings, mixers, and red carpet events across Los Angeles. The podcast Cult Following, hosted by Elias Alexandro, is the podcast voice of that community.
• Bleiberg EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on The Heretiks, Be Afraid's first feature film. Be Afraid partnered with Bleiberg Entertainment alongside Bleiberg and Chris White (executive producer of Backrooms) for production of the Halloween-set supernatural thriller.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crypt TV: Horror-focused short-form digital content brand originally launched by Jack Davis with Eli Roth, producing genre storytelling for social and streaming platforms. Comparable as a digital-native horror content network targeting younger enthusiast audiences.
• Bloody Disgusting: Horror news, reviews, and streaming platform founded by Be Afraid Media's Brad Miska in 2001 and sold in 2021; remains the closest direct competitor in horror editorial and genre streaming, with overlapping audience and creator relationships.
• Full Moon Features: Long-running horror production and streaming company (Charles Band) with a deep library of original horror titles and a dedicated streaming service. Comparable as a vertically integrated horror content production and distribution company.
• Screambox: Independent horror-focused streaming service offering curated films, originals, and bundled access with Bloody Disgusting. Comparable as a niche horror streamer targeting the same enthusiast audience and pursuing genre-specific content licensing.
• DUST: Short-form sci-fi and horror streaming platform featuring independent genre filmmakers, distributed across YouTube and connected TV. Comparable as a digital-first genre content platform serving enthusiast audiences through short-form storytelling.
• Shudder: AMC Networks' subscription horror streaming service featuring curated genre films, originals, and exclusives. Directly comparable as a dedicated horror streaming destination competing for the same fan viewership and genre advertising dollars.
• ARROW Player: Streaming platform from Arrow Video, a leading cult/horror physical media distributor, offering curated horror, cult, and genre film libraries. Comparable as a genre-specialist streaming destination leveraging an established horror catalog brand and FAST-style distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Blumhouse Productions: Largest independent horror film production company (Get Out, Paranormal Activity, Halloween franchise) producing theatrical and streaming horror at scale. Comparable as a broader, well-capitalized horror production leader and a potential partner or competitor for original film content.
• AMC Networks: Publicly traded media company operating cable channels and Shudder, the largest dedicated horror streaming service. Comparable as the parent of the most direct streaming competitor and a benchmark for genre-streaming valuation and operating economics.
• A24: Independent entertainment company producing and distributing acclaimed genre-adjacent films including horror titles (Hereditary, Midsommar, Talk to Me). Comparable as a broader indie producer/distributor with significant horror output and a strong brand among genre enthusiasts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Be Afraid Media