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FilmRise

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FilmRise Acquisitions LLC
FormerlyFisher Klingenstein Films
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm and television distribution
Founded2012; 13 years ago (2012)
Founders
HeadquartersNew York City, New York, United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Alan Klingenstein (chairman)
  • Danny Fisher (CEO)
  • Jack Fisher (president)
  • Johnny Holden (CFO & CSO)
ProductsMotion pictures
Film distribution
FAST channels
Home video
ParentRadial Entertainment[1]
Websitefilmrise.com Edit this at Wikidata

FilmRise Acquisitions LLC is an American media company, headquartered in New York City, that operates a film and television studio and a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) network.[2][3][4] FilmRise also syndicates its own digital linear channels to platforms including The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee and Vizio.[5][6][7][8][9]

FilmRise focuses on acquiring content that is either under the radar or significantly underestimated by the industry.[10][11]

History

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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.[12] Data signals 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 streaming including SVOD/AVOD. Alan Klingenstein joined onto the project as a partner, and the three became the founders of FilmRise.[citation needed]

They began to use their approach 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. This proved successful and the company became profitable.[13][14]

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 American digital distribution rights and has released the property successfully on numerous platforms, including Netflix, Disney's Hulu and Amazon Prime,[15] making the show one of the most popular library shows in the streaming space.[16]

In 2017, FilmRise became one of the first content providers on The Roku Channel and has since become a content provider on other ad-supported streaming services including Peacock, Amazon Freevee, Samsung TV Plus, Vizio, Sling, Pluto TV, and Tubi.[17][18]

By the end of 2017, the company raised over $100MM for content acquisitions. These funds were used to pay license fees for film and television libraries.[19][20] 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 it to work with many streaming platforms on its programming. [21][22][23][24][25]

In 2020, the company introduced its first original co-production, Bloodline Detectives with Nancy Grace, which completed its fifth season in 2025. The series airs on broadcast television via syndication, and is streamed on digital platforms.[26]

Johnny Holden joined FilmRise in August 2020 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In May 2024, he was elevated to Chief Strategy Officer while retaining his role as CFO. [27]

In January 2021, FilmRise acquired the streaming rights to content from several YouTubers.[28] In the same year, it 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.[29]

In August 2022, it acquired streaming rights to the syndicated reality TV show Cheaters from Goldstein Pictures Corporation.[30]

In April 2023, it acquired 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.[31][32] In October, FilmRise acquired 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 TV shows and specials that feature the Australian children's music group The Wiggles.[33][34]

In July 2025, FilmRise was purchased by Oaktree Capital Management, which merged the company with Shout! Studios as a single holding company named Radial Entertainment. CEO Danny Fisher will serve as Executive Chairman of Radial.[35]

Film (animation and live-action)

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Television (animation and live-action)

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Original programming

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  • Bloodline Detectives (2020-2024)
  • Music: Through the Lens (2020-2021)
  • Meet, Marry, Murder (2021)
  • Making a Serial Killer (2021-2024)
  • Follow Me (2023)
  • The Interrogation Room (2023)
  • Not Like Mama (2023-present)

Acquired programming

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Children's programming

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References

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  1. ^ "Radial Entertainment". Radial Entertainment. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  2. ^ "FilmRise, Sony, Roku, Pluto TV and Xumo Join Streaming Conversation at TheGrill 2020". Yahoo! Entertainment. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  3. ^ "FilmRise Streaming Network Grows to 31.5M App Downloads". Media Play News. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  4. ^ "As Netflix Pivots From Classic TV, Smaller Services Are Picking Up the Torch". Decider. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  5. ^ "Samsung TV Plus Free Streaming Service Channel Lineup". Windows Dispatch. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  6. ^ Gurwin, Jason (20 November 2020). "Roku Adds 30+ New Linear Channels to The Roku Channel". The Streamable. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  7. ^ "Roku Channel lands in UK: 'People want free content to supplement subscriptions'". The Drum.
  8. ^ "IMDb TV adds dedicated 'Walking Dead' service in six channel AMC deal". TBI Vision. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  9. ^ Spangler, Todd (2020-04-07). "Vizio Adds 30 Free Streaming Channels to Smart TVs". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  10. ^ "As Netflix Pivots From Classic TV, Smaller Services Are Picking Up the Torch". Decider. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  11. ^ Brzoznowski, Kristin (2021-01-19). "WorldScreenings: FilmRise's Danny Fisher". WORLD SCREEN. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  12. ^ "Indie Company Rises With New Vision – Media Play News". 16 April 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  13. ^ "About". Filmrise. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  14. ^ Winfrey, Graham (2016-10-20). "How FilmRise Will Spend $27 Million in 6 Months (And Why The Distributor Has Offers For More)". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  15. ^ "Forensic Files | Where to Stream and Watch". Decider. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  16. ^ Marechal, A. J. (2014-02-10). "FilmRise Nabs Stateside Digital Rights For 'Forensic Files'". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  17. ^ "FilmRise is Making More Classic TV Available for Free". Cord Cutters News. 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  18. ^ Roku. "Roku". Roku. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  19. ^ "Brooklyn-based FilmRise raises $27M from Harlan Capital". New York Business Journal.
  20. ^ "FilmRise Secures $50 Million in New Financing". The Hollywood Reporter. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  21. ^ "FilmRise Enters Partnership With All3media International". VideoAge International. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  22. ^ "FilmRise Secures $50 Million in New Financing". The Hollywood Reporter. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  23. ^ "FilmRise Inks Streaming Deals with ITV, MGM and Warner Bros. – Media Play News". 9 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  24. ^ McNary, Dave (2015-10-28). "FilmRise Raises $25 Million for Acquisitions, Licensing". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  25. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: 'Roseanne,' '3rd Rock from the Sun,' 'A Different World,' and More '90s Classics Are Coming to Amazon". Decider. 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  26. ^ "FilmRise Sets Nancy Grace True Crime Series 'Bloodline Detectives' As First Original". www.yahoo.com. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  27. ^ "FilmRise CFO Johnny Holden adds chief strategy officer post to remit". C21media. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  28. ^ "FilmRise to elevate YouTubers beyond digital". Kidscreen. January 19, 2021.
  29. ^ Ravindran, Manori (October 10, 2021). "'Iron Chef': Japanese Original Series Heads to FilmRise Through Exclusive Fuji Deal". Variety. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  30. ^ "FilmRise Acquires Digital Rights to Reality Series 'Cheaters'". Media Play News. August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  31. ^ "FilmRise Acquires More True Crime, Including "World's Wildest Police Videos"". Media Play News. 17 April 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  32. ^ "FilmRise acquires global digital rights to World's Wildest Police Videos". Rapid TV News. April 18, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "BuzzFeed Sells Huge Library of Shows Including "Hot Ones" To FilmRise". Variety. September 29, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  34. ^ "FilmRise picks up The Wiggles package". Kidscreen. October 18, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  35. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (July 1, 2025). "Oaktree Capital Buys FilmRise, Merges It With Shout! Studios In New Radial Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
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