Fisher Klingenstein Ventures, LLC, doing business as FilmRise, is a New York–based film/television studio and streaming network, which has become one of the largest independent providers of content to ad-supported streaming (AVOD) platforms,[1] in addition to providing the largest free direct to consumer service with its 22 owned-and-operated streaming channels, the "FilmRise Streaming Network".[2][3] Currently, the FilmRise Streaming Network has reported more than 31.5 million downloads in the U.S. and can be seen on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Comcast, iOS, Android and Apple, among other platforms.[4] FilmRise also syndicates its own digital linear channels (aka "Free ad-supported streaming television") to platforms including The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, and Amazon's Freevee and Vizio.[5][6][7][8][9]
FilmRise has created a proprietary data analytics algorithm methodology that predicts consumer demand of content irrespective of perceived industry demand. This content is either under the radar or significantly underestimated by the industry.[10][11]
The company was founded in 2012 by producer/financiers Danny Fisher, Jack Fisher, and Alan Klingenstein.[12][13]
FilmRise has experienced rapid growth in revenue and profitability over the past several years, as its predictive analytics of content usage has resulted in high traffic of its content library of over 40,000 movies and TV episodes on third-party platforms including The Roku Channel, Paramount's Pluto TV, Fox Corp's Tubi, Universal's Peacock, Samsung TV Plus, Soul's Crackle/Redbox and Amazon's Freevee, as well as the growth of its own direct to consumer service, the FilmRise Streaming Network. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused streaming to surge as audiences are viewing their entertainment primarily from home.[14][15][16][17]
In addition to digital syndication to streaming services, FilmRise licenses content to cable and broadcast partners such as HBO, Starz (Lionsgate), PBS and Paramount Global.[18][19]
History
Logo from 2012 to 2018
In 2012, Danny and Jack Fisher began studying the current state of television and film and developed a new concept for the emerging digital industry. Their vision took shape as a connection between data, content, audiences, and the internet.[20] Proprietary data analytics[21] were used to measure demand for content and they envisioned digital channels where viewers would get their content for free. This became the foundation of FilmRise's business model for OTT including SVOD/AVOD.[12]
Also in 2012, Alan Klingenstein joined onto the project as a partner, and the three became the Founders of Fisher Klingenstein Ventures, LLC, soon to be known as FilmRise (FilmRise is a d/b/a of Fisher Klingenstein Ventures, LLC).[22][12]
They began to use the model to acquire dormant and/or under-recognized film and television content and distribute the titles on DVD and digital platforms, such as Amazon's Disc on Demand and YouTube. The analytics model proved highly successful and the company quickly became profitable. Danny, Jack and Alan remain the largest stakeholders in FilmRise. Alan currently serves as chairman of the board, Danny is CEO, and Jack is president.[13][23]
In 2013, Medstar Productions put the digital rights of the long-running, syndicated hit and a staple of the HLN network, Forensic Files, up for license. FilmRise licensed the exclusive U.S. digital distribution rights and has released the property successfully on numerous platforms, including Netflix and Hulu,[24] making the show one of the most popular library shows in the streaming space.[25]
Using its algorithms to predict consumer behavior the company continued to acquire the digital rights to television and film content, including Unsolved Mysteries, Hell's Kitchen, 3rd Rock from the Sun and Midsomer Murders,[26] creating a distribution operation that enabled the company to monetize content and build out a sales/operations team to foster relationships with new and emerging digital platforms, including The Roku Channel, Fox Corporation's Tubi, Amazon's IMDb TV, NBCUniversal's Peacock, ViacomCBS' Pluto TV, among many others.[27][28][29][30]
In 2014, FilmRise created a free direct-to-consumer brand, supported by advertising on proprietary apps, The FilmRise Streaming Network, which launched on Roku.[31][32] Over the past five years, the channel was added to internet-connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, Comcast, iOS, Android and Apple TV.[33][34][13] The FilmRise Streaming Network is regularly featured in lists of the top ten free streaming destinations.[35][36][37][38]
In 2017, FilmRise became one of the first content providers on The Roku Channel and has since become a leading content provider on numerous ad-supported streaming services including Universal's Peacock, Amazon's Freevee, Paramount's Pluto TV, Fox Corp's Tubi, Soul's Redbox/Crackle, STIRR, Vudu, and others.[39][40]
By the end of 2017, the company raised over $100MM for content acquisitions. These money were used to pay license fees for film and television libraries.[41][42] FilmRise continued to work with emerging digital platforms, as well as growing relationships with major Hollywood studios and television networks that were eager for new licensing opportunities. FilmRise's ability to optimize monetization from TV and film content enabled them to work with many streaming platforms on their programming strategies.[43][44][45][46][47]
At this point, FilmRise began to accumulate actionable data from the distribution of over 10,000 hours of content across a wide range of platforms, enabling the company to refine and improve on its proprietary data analytics.[13]
In 2020, the company introduced their first original co-production, Bloodline Detectives with Nancy Grace, which is airing on broadcast television via syndication, and will soon be streamed on digital platforms.[48] FilmRise currently has five programs in development and/or production.
In January 2021, FilmRise announced that it would acquire the streaming rights to content from YouTubers Preston & Brianna, MrBeast, Nathan Graham (also known as Unspeakable), Guga Foods, Azzyland, Dallmyd and Matt Stone.[56]
In 2021, FilmRise had entered in an exclusive deal with Fuji TV's distribution arm, Fuji Creative Corporation to acquire streaming and digital distribution rights to the Japanese cooking show Iron Chef.[57]
FilmRise has also become a pioneer in the international ad-supported streaming space. Among the overseas platforms that the company currently provides content to are: Rakuten, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.[13]
In May 2022, it was announced that FilmRise had acquired streaming rights for Nomad of Nowhere, Camp Camp, and Red vs. Blue, three Rooster Teeth productions, grouping episodes from each series into "traditional half-hour formats and seasons for streaming."[58]
In August 2022, it was announced that FilmRise had acquired streaming rights to the syndicated reality TV show Cheaters from Goldstein Pictures Corporstion.[59]
In November 2022, it was announced that FilmRise had acquired streaming rights for Hemlock Grove and Hannibal.[60]
In April 2023, FilmRise announced that it would acquire the streaming and digital distribution rights to the reality television series World's Wildest Police Videos and its specials, including the World's Scariest Police Chases series from Pursuit Productions.[61][62]
In June 2023, it was announced that FilmRise would acquire the AVOD rights to the documentary television series Truthseekers from Big Media.
In October 2023, FilmRise announced that it would acquire the worldwide digital distribution rights to the BuzzFeed Studios and Complex Networks television libraries, which includes their YouTube shows Hot Ones and BuzzFeed Unsolved and also, all TV shows and specials that feature Australian children's music group The Wiggles.[63][64]
