Chick-fil-A is attempting to break into the entertainment industry with plans to create original content for its own streaming platform as it eyes a release later this year.
The fast food company has been developing family-friendly reality television shows in collaboration with major production companies including a gameshow and other unscripted content.
Acquisitions and Licensing
The chain restaurant, known for its chicken sandwiches, is additionally in talks to acquire and license programs on top of creating its own original content.
According to Deadline, a gameshow produced by Glassman Media, which also produces NBC’s (CMCSA) The Wall, and Michael Sugar’s company Sugar23, which produced the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, has already received a 10-episode order from Chick-Fil-A.
Spearheading the Streaming Service
Chick-fil-A is reportedly spending about $400,000 for each half-hour of unscripted television; additionally, animated and scripted projects are on the company’s radar as part of their expansion into streaming.
Driving Chick-fil-A’s introduction to streaming is Brian Gibson, a TV producer who has worked on The X Factor, Dancing with the Stars, and Top Gear USA.
“Entertainment Producer” Job Listing
In 2023 the fast food chain advertised a job listing for an “Entertainment Producer” for an upcoming entertainment app on the Chick-fil-A website which indicates how long talks have been ongoing for this project.
According to the listing, the app will feature original content that is “not necessarily about Chick-fil-A products or the Chick-fil-A brand.”
Family Friendly Content
Instead, Chick-fil-A says it would concentrate on content that is suitable for families, such as “scripted podcasts and audio adventures, original animation, reality and game shows, and other live-action scripted or non-scripted programming.”
It is expected that the platform will launch later this year with its slate of original programming.
Other Surprising Competitors
Chick-fil-A is one of several surprising businesses that have entered the entertainment industry in recent years in an attempt to gain a share of the market.
On its YouTube channel last year, the ride-sharing app Lyft launched a gameshow featuring Bob the Drag Queen called the “Lucky Lyft” trivia show.
“Humanize Health Care”
In addition, Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York State, established Northwell Studios in July to produce documentary and scripted films about the hospital system.
According to their release, the entity aims to “[harness] the power of storytelling and entertainment to humanize health care and spark meaningful social conversations.”
Past Entertainment Endeavors
This isn’t the first time that Chick-fil-A has taken a step into the entertainment industry, however. Since 2019, the company has released an animated film for the holidays annually.
Additionally, under CEO Andrew Cathy who took over in 2021, Chick-fil-A started manufacturing children’s puzzles and games under a new brand known as Pennycake.
Pennycake Mission
The toy brand which features board games, puzzles, and activities aims to promote family play time.
A group of parents who work for Chick-fil-A spearheaded the project when they reviewed a study that showed how American families only spend about 37 minutes of quality time together during the working week.
Challenges and Potential
The streaming industry is becoming increasingly competitive with a highly saturated market and increased challenges with shaky profit margins and unpredictable subscriber growth.
However other brands have experienced success in pivoting to the entertainment industry with successes netting companies like Mattel and Hasbro huge hits with the Barbie and Dungeons & Dragons movies.
Brand Image
The brand may have some work to do in rehabilitating its image if it wants to appeal to a wide demographic.
Previously its charitable foundation received criticism for donations to groups who have anti-LGBTQ connections. Former CEO Dan Cathy additionally came under fire for his views on opposing same-sex marriage.
Charity Changes
Following this, the charitable arm of the company announced that it would be stopping its donations to controversial groups in 2019.
Their focus was shifted to a smaller number of groups that deal with issues such as homelessness, hunger, and education. The change drew criticism from some conservative pundits, however.
The pivot to streaming may help to remedy some of the brand’s difficulties with image but whether it will see mainstream success remains to be seen.
