Chick-Fil-A is making a bold move into the entertainment industry with plans to launch its own streaming platform featuring a range of original content. The fast-food chain is collaborating with major production companies and studios to develop family-friendly programming, focusing on unscripted shows but also exploring scripted projects and animation.
Sources familiar with the project have revealed that Chick-Fil-A is working with notable production companies, including Glassman Media, known for NBC’s “The Wall,” and Michael Sugar’s Sugar23, the team behind Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why.” One of the anticipated projects is a family-friendly game show from Glassman Media, which has been ordered for ten episodes.
Budget estimates for these unscripted programs are reported to be around $400,000 per half-hour episode. The company aims to launch its streaming service later this year and is also in discussions to license and acquire additional content to bolster its platform.
Brian Gibson, who has experience with popular series such as History’s “Top Gear” remake and Fox’s adaptation of “The X Factor,” is spearheading the programming efforts. Gibson has been in talks with various producers to bring fresh content to the new streaming service.
Chick-Fil-A’s foray into the entertainment space marks a significant expansion beyond its core fast-food business. The company, which operates over 3,000 restaurants across the U.S., has previously dipped its toes into content creation with projects like “Stories of Evergreen Hills,” a series of short, animated films produced for its own website. Additionally, Chick-Fil-A has ventured into creating children’s puzzles and games under its Pennycake brand.
This move places Chick-Fil-A alongside other companies outside the traditional entertainment sector that have ventured into original content. For instance, Lyft has produced shows such as “Lucky Lyft,” a game show hosted by Bob The Drag Queen, while Airbnb created the documentary “Gay Chorus Deep South,” which aired on MTV.
Industry insiders view Chick-Fil-A’s entry into the streaming market as a potentially positive development for the reality TV genre, which has faced challenges in recent years. The expansion into entertainment is seen as a strategic opportunity, with some comparing it to other forms of branded content.
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Chick-Fil-A has yet to comment on the specifics of its streaming platform or its broader content strategy. The move underscores a growing trend where companies leverage their brand identity to enter the content creation space, aiming to engage consumers through diverse media offerings.
As the company prepares to launch its streaming service, it will join a competitive landscape where established media giants and new entrants vie for audience attention. With a focus on family-friendly and engaging content, Chick-Fil-A aims to carve out a niche in the evolving entertainment industry.
