What High Five Entertainment does

High Five Entertainment is a Nashville-based, full-service entertainment production company founded in 1983 by Martin Fischer in Los Angeles and relocated to Nashville in 1993. The firm produces television series, specials, live events, award shows, pilots, and related content for major U.S. television networks and music-industry clients, with a portfolio spanning music specials and series (CMT Invitation Only, Opry Live, BLAST!, Levon Helm: Ramble At The Ryman), unscripted reality programming (Pass Time, Burnout, Drag Race High, Meet The Wilsons), live events and award broadcasts (CMT Music Awards Red Carpet, Americana Music Honors & Awards, Farm Aid), and sports/wellness content (Real Pro Wrestling, Dr. Amen). Its core technology is entertainment production craft and live-event execution — including multi-camera capture, on-location taping across the U.S., U.K., and Ireland, and integrated live-to-tape music programming — rather than a software platform; the company operates no public or partner-facing API.

High Five's business model is B2B professional services revenue, with project-based contracts for TV networks (CMT, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, HBO, Speed, GAC), marquee music institutions (Grand Ole Opry, Americana Music Association), and corporate sponsors (Coca-Cola, Nissan). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and the company relies on long-term, relationship-driven engagements such as four consecutive years of Americana Music Honors & Awards production (2011-2014), seven CMT Red Carpet Specials across four years, and 150+ episodes each of Opry Live and Pass Time. The company has won three Regional Emmy Awards and received ten Regional Emmy nominations since 2010, providing reputational capital that anchors renewals.

Since December 2013, High Five has operated as a 75%-owned subsidiary of Brick Top Productions (OTCQB: BTOP), which acquired the controlling stake from co-founder Martin Fischer for $210,000 and committed approximately $465,000 of additional capital during 2014 to fund new programming development. Martin Fischer continues to lead the company as President & CEO alongside VP & CFO Edie Lynn Hoback, who has been with the firm since 1996. The company is headquartered at 500 Church Street, Suite 410, Nashville, TN 37219, and serves North American clients with select international productions.

Name

High Five Entertainment

Legal name

S&G Holdings, Inc.

Website

https://highfiveentertainment.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nashville-based entertainment production company founded in 1983 that produces television series, music specials, live events, and award shows for major U.S. networks and music-industry clients including CMT, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, HBO, and the Grand Ole Opry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Broadcast/Recording for Live Events (OB, Multicam, Livestream Capture) (MPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Awards Ceremonies & Recognition Events (MPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Television production services
• Live event production
• Music special production
• Award show production
• Reality series production

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Television Production Services: Production services for television series, specials, and reality programming for networks including CMT, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, HBO, Speed, and GAC.
2. Live Event Production: Production of live concerts, award shows, benefit events, and red carpet specials for major music industry events.
3. Content Licensing and Format Production: Production of developed TV and internet show projects, including game shows like PASS TIME with 150+ episode runs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

High Five Entertainment is an entertainment production company that produces television series, music specials, live events, award shows, reality programming, and pilots for major TV networks and music industry clients. The company provides end-to-end production services from development through delivery, including on-location taping, live broadcast coverage, and post-production. Its portfolio spans music specials, unscripted/reality series, award show broadcasts, and benefit concerts for networks including CMT, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, and HBO.

Product overview

High Five Entertainment is a full-service entertainment and production company offering comprehensive production services from development to delivery. The company specializes in producing music specials and series (including BLAST!, CMT Invitation Only, and Americana Music Honors & Awards), unscripted/reality programming (such as Pass Time, Burnout, and Drag Race High), live events and award shows (CMT Music Awards Red Carpet, Farm Aid, Opry Live), and sports/wellness productions. With three Emmy Awards and over 30 years of experience, the company produces content for major networks including NBC, CBS, ABC, HBO, PBS, and CMT. The company was acquired by Brick Top Productions (OTCQB: BTOP) and has produced over 150 episodes of various series and numerous music specials and live events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BLAST! An Emmy Award-winning music special featuring brass and percussion ensembles blending with dramatic choreography, lighting, and special effects, featuring classical, symphonic, Broadway, and popular music performances taped at the London Apollo Hammersmith Theatre.
• CMT Invitation Only An intimate concert series featuring country music stars including Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Reba, and Rascal Flatts. Sixteen episodes produced featuring performances and audience Q&A with artists for CMT.
• Pass Time A game show where contestants guess the time a vehicle will travel down a quarter mile track to win cash. Originally produced by High Five Entertainment, the show ran for nine seasons with over 150 episodes on SPEED Channel (now Fox Sports 1).
• Burnout: The Ultimate Drag Race Challenge A reality competition where two teams of students from the Universal Technical Institute compete during an eight-week challenge to build a drag car, with the winning team earning scholarships and cash prizes.
• Opry Live A music series with over 150 episodes produced featuring performances and behind-the-scenes moments from the Grand Ole Opry, including inductions of Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Darius Rucker.
• Americana Music Honors & Awards The annual marquee event for the Americana Music Association, producing live broadcasts from the Ryman Auditorium honoring distinguished members of the Americana music community with member-voted awards and lifetime achievement awards.
• CMT Music Awards Red Carpet Live red carpet coverage for the CMT Music Awards featuring country music's biggest stars, fashion highlights, and celebrity interviews, airing on CMT as the official lead-in to 'The 48th Annual CMA Awards' on ABC.
• Farm Aid The longest running benefit concert series in America, headlined by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews to keep family farmers on their land.
• Christmas with Scotty McCreery & Friends A one-hour Christmas special featuring Scotty McCreery, Gloriana, Jana Kramer, and Brett Eldredge performing holiday songs, taped exclusively for GAC at Nashville's Music Row.
• Alabama & Friends A concert event featuring the band Alabama with collaborations with Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Trisha Yearwood, Florida Georgia Line, and other country stars.
• Levon Helm: Ramble At The Ryman An Emmy and Grammy Award-winning special featuring Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium with performances by Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Sheryl Crow, and Sam Bush.
• NAPA Now A half-hour web-based production for the NAPA Brand featuring outdoor content, dealer profiles, product profiles, and celebrity inserts hosted by Rich Christensen.
• Drag Race High Season 1 A reality series where students from rival high schools compete to build a race car on a timeline and budget, with completed cars competing down a quarter mile drag strip.
• Coupon Live A hybrid entertainment and speed shopping programming format where hosts offer retail products on air at deeply discounted prices.
• Stars For Stripes: Wounded Warriors Return A documentary featuring country artists Craig Morgan and Chris Young traveling to the Middle East to bring entertainment to military bases in Iraq and Germany.
• Dr. Amen - Magnificent Mind PBS wellness programs featuring Dr. Daniel Amen's principles on brain health, including 'Magnificent Mind at Any Age' and 'Your Brain in Love.' Shows aired approximately 50,000 times and generated about $40 million for PBS stations.
• Real Pro Wrestling An Olympic and collegiate wrestling series featuring eight teams competing in specially designed venues with 360-degree camera angles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3 million viewers for 2014 CMT Music Awards telecast
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Rich ChristensenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2014Collaboration with television producer Rich Christensen to exclusively produce his television and internet show projects including PINKS, PINKS: ALL OUT, and PASS TIME franchises. PASS TIME originally produced by HFE had a historic 150+ episode run on SPEED Channel. HFE named exclusive production company of record for PASS TIME series. Agreement effective February 20, 2014 for initial 3-month period renewable by mutual agreement.
• CMTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2013Ongoing partnership with CMT for production of CMA Awards and CMT Music Awards red carpet shows. High Five has produced all seven of CMT's Red Carpet Specials over 4 years. The 2014 CMA Awards Red Carpet aired live on CMT as the official lead-in to 'The 48th Annual CMA Awards' on ABC. Martin Fischer noted 'We are a company that loves to produce live events and CMT is one of the premier live event networks.'
• ABC Studios / Lionsgate / Opry EntertainmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2013Produced historic live musical performances for the season premiere of ABC's 'Nashville' - the first time in TV history a dramatic series broadcast numerous live musical performances throughout a pre-taped episode. Performances broadcast from the Bluebird Café set featuring cast members and Florida Georgia Line. Executive producers include Dee Johnson, Callie Khouri, and Steve Buchanan.
• Americana Music AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2011Long-term production partnership for Americana Music Honors & Awards, the annual marquee event for the Americana Music Association held at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. High Five produced the awards show for four consecutive years (2011-2014). Over 2,000 artists, music-loving fans, and entertainment industry executives attend annually. Jed Hilly, Executive Director of Americana Music Association, stated 'We couldn't produce the show without Martin Fischer, Edie Hoback and the High Five team.'
• PBSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing production partner for PBS programming including Great Performances series, Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, and Dr. Amen programs. Dr. Amen PBS programs generated approximately $40 million for PBS stations through 50,000+ airings.
• Fox Sports / Speed ChannelmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for PASS TIME game show franchise. Originally produced by HFE, PASS TIME had 150+ episode run on SPEED Channel (now Fox Sports 1). PINKS and PINKS: ALL OUT ranked number two and three on the Fox-owned SPEED Channel.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dick Clark Productions: Long-standing U.S. producer of live award shows and music telecasts (American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Golden Globes). Directly comparable to High Five's live event and award show production business for music industry clients.
• Pilgrim Media Group: U.S. unscripted and reality television producer (Wicked Tuna, Street Outlaws, Ghost Hunters). Comparable as a mid-sized independent production company producing network-format reality and live-to-tape entertainment for cable and broadcast networks.
• Magilla Entertainment: Independent unscripted production company producing docuseries and reality programming for U.S. networks. Comparable to High Five's Pass Time, Drag Race High, and other mid-budget unscripted formats for cable networks.
• 51 Minds Entertainment: U.S. reality and unscripted television producer (The Surreal Life, Flipping Out, Marriage Boot Camp). Comparable as a similarly sized independent producer of reality programming and live-to-tape entertainment for cable networks.
• A. Smith & Co. Productions: Independent U.S. producer of unscripted and reality programming (American Ninja Warrior, Hell's Kitchen). Comparable as a similarly scaled producer of competition and reality formats for major broadcast and cable networks.
• Original Productions: U.S. unscripted and live-event production company (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, Bering Sea Gold). Comparable to High Five's reality and event-driven production work, particularly automotive/outdoor content like Pass Time and Secrets of the Hunt.
• Thinkfactory Media: Independent U.S. unscripted and reality producer (Genealogy Roadshow, Married at First Sight, Hatfields & McCoys). Comparable as a mid-sized independent production company creating event-driven and reality content for cable networks.
• Irwin Entertainment: Independent U.S. television production company producing reality, competition, and event programming for major networks. Comparable to High Five's scale and production mix across music, reality, and live special events.

Broad incumbents

• Fremantle: Global television production company behind formats like American Idol, X Factor, and Got Talent. Comparable as a music-television and live event production company serving major networks, but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Endemol Shine North America: Major unscripted and reality producer (MasterChef, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal). Comparable to High Five's unscripted/reality and live-event production work for U.S. networks, but at far larger scale and with global format ownership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/nxUwcNXgfmw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-five-entertainment-inc.

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 High Five Entertainment