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RIVR Media

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RIVR Media is an American-based TV production company, specializing in reality and documentary programming. RIVR is responsible for Fixer to Fabulous,[1] Whale Wars,[2] Trading Spaces, Escaping Polygamy, Fat Guys in the Woods, Renovation Realities, Going RV, Friday Night Impossible with Jerry Rice, Great American Heroes featuring Trace Adkins, Run My Renovation, and much more. It provides programming for cable networks, including A&E, HGTV, DIY Network, GAC, Lifetime Movie Network, MTV, Fine Living, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Weather Channel, History Channel, ESPN, Animal Planet, Game Show Network, TLC, Nickelodeon, Food Network, Court TV and TNN.

RIVR's production credits include documentaries, reality series, sitcoms, travel series, sports entertainment, and post-production services.

RIVR Media is owned by [3] partners Dee Haslam[4] and Lori Golden-Stryer, and is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Both Haslam and Stryer are Executive Producers[5] for the company. Lori Golden-Stryer is CEO. She and HGTV co-founder, Bob Baskerville, are partners and co-owners of RIVR Studios, newly-renovated facilities in Knoxville, available to rent for shoots. After 20 years at RIVR, Rob Lundgren retired in 2019.

Company history

RIVR Media originally derives from Bagwell Communications, run by Ross Bagwell Sr. and Ross Bagwell Jr., a Knoxville Tennessee-based advertising agency. In 1985 Bagwell Communications formed a company named 'Cinetel Productions' and engaged with the cable network The Nashville Network (TNN) to produce 415 episodes of I-40 Paradise.

Over the next ten years, Cinetel developed programs for A&E, the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, Travel Channel, Nickelodeon, and The Nashville Network. In 1994 Cinetel was sold to Scripps Howard,[6] a national media company looking to launch HGTV. In 1998, Cinetel was renamed Scripps Productions.[7] After the acquisition, the Bagwells formed a new company, Bagwell Entertainment LLC / Ross Television Productions, and continued producing programs for a variety of cable networks, including HGTV.

In 1999, Dee Haslam and business partner Rob Lundgren assumed control of Bagwell Entertainment renaming the company RIVR Media. In 2000 RIVR established RIVR Media Interactive—now RIVR Digital, which focuses on short form video production and marketing. In 2002 RIVR established RIVR Media Studios, a subsidiary focused on for-hire production and post-production services.

List of shows produced

Notes and references

  1. ^ "HGTV Co-Founder Bob Baskerville & RIVR Media to Launch Major Studio Complex in Knoxville, Tennessee". 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ Knoxville News Sentinel Task (December 23, 2008). "'Whale Wars' pays off for Rivr Media".
  3. ^ "RIVR Media's Rob Lundgren to retire".
  4. ^ Knoxville News Sentinel Staff (March 11, 2008). "Rivr's online network aims for 'certain vibe'".
  5. ^ "People | RIVR Media". www.rivr.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08.
  6. ^ Broadcasting & Cable (February 7, 1994). "Scripps expansion. (E.W. Scripps Co.; acquisition of Bagwell Communications/Cinetel Productions)". Archived from the original on October 23, 2012.
  7. ^ Scripps Productions. "Cinetel Productions Changes Name To Scripps Productions; Jim Zarchin Named President-General Manager". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
  8. ^ McRary, Amy (August 17, 2007). "DIY show follows construction of cabin designed by bloggers".
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