Chick-Fil-A, the renowned fast-food chain famous for its chicken sandwiches, is making a significant leap into the entertainment industry. The company has embarked on an ambitious project to launch a slate of original content on its own streaming platform. According to reports from Deadline, Chick-Fil-A is collaborating with several major production companies to produce family-friendly shows, primarily focusing on the unscripted genre. This move represents a broader trend of non-traditional companies venturing into content creation, similar to the efforts seen from companies like Lyft and Airbnb in recent years.
Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that Chick-Fil-A’s new content lineup includes a family-oriented game show produced by Glassman Media, the company behind NBC’s “The Wall,” and Sugar23, known for producing Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why.” The game show has already received a ten-episode order, signaling Chick-Fil-A’s commitment to creating high-quality, engaging content for its audience. The budget for these unscripted projects is estimated to be around $400,000 per half-hour episode, reflecting the company’s willingness to invest significantly in this new venture.
The content development strategy is being led by Brian Gibson, a seasoned producer with a strong background in reality television. Gibson’s previous work includes overseeing productions such as History’s “Top Gear” remake and Fox’s adaptation of “The X Factor.” His involvement suggests that Chick-Fil-A is serious about producing content that meets industry standards and resonates with viewers.
Chick-Fil-A’s decision to enter the entertainment industry is not entirely surprising, given its history of creating content to engage its customer base. The company has previously produced short, animated films under the “Stories of Evergreen Hills” series, which were featured on its website. Additionally, Chick-Fil-A has expanded into other areas, such as children’s puzzles and games through its Pennycake brand. However, this new initiative marks the company’s most significant push into the entertainment space to date.
While the focus is currently on unscripted content, there are discussions about expanding into scripted series and animated shows in the future. This approach would allow Chick-Fil-A to cater to a broader audience and offer a more diverse range of programming. The company is reportedly in talks with various producers to explore these possibilities, indicating that its entertainment ambitions extend beyond a single project.
The move into entertainment also represents a potential boon for the reality TV industry, which has faced challenges in recent years. One industry insider told Deadline that Chick-Fil-A’s entry into content creation is a positive development, likening it to branded content that serves to strengthen the company’s relationship with its customers. Another source noted that the initiative provides a new opportunity for producers and creators to develop content that aligns with Chick-Fil-A’s brand values.
Despite the excitement surrounding this new venture, Chick-Fil-A has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of its streaming platform and the content it plans to offer. The company declined to comment when approached by Deadline for further details. However, with over 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Chick-Fil-A has a substantial customer base that could be leveraged to drive viewership for its original content.
As the fast-food chain prepares to launch its streaming platform later this year, industry observers will be watching closely to see how Chick-Fil-A’s entertainment strategy unfolds. If successful, it could pave the way for other non-traditional companies to explore content creation as a means of diversifying their business models and engaging with consumers in new ways.
