RIVR Media
RIVR Media is an American-based TV production company, specializing in reality and documentary programming. RIVR is responsible for Fixer to Fabulous, Whale Wars, 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 partners Dee Haslam and Lori Golden-Stryer, and is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Both Haslam and Stryer are Executive Producers 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 1982 Bagwell Communications formed a company named 'Cinetel Productions' and engaged with the cable network The Nashville Network 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, a national media company looking to launch HGTV. In 1998, Cinetel was renamed Scripps Productions. 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
Trading Spaces on TLCWhale Wars on Animal PlanetRenovation Realities on DIYFat Guys in the Woods on The Weather ChannelFixer to Fabulous on HGTVFriday Night Impossible with Jerry Rice on GACEscaping Polygamy on Lifetime Movie NetworkGreat American Heroes featuring Trace Adkins on GACGoing RV on GACWarehouse Warriors on DIYRun My Renovation on DIYAll Star Kitchen Makeover on the Food NetworkAmerica's Castles on A&EAmerica's Riverboat Casinos on the Travel ChannelAn Evening with Louis Grizzard on TNNAppalachian Stories on the Travel ChannelBackyard Habitat on Animal PlanetBlog Cabin on DIYCatastrophe Inc. on DIYClassic Car Restoration on DIYClassic Rides on DIYClub Dance on TNNDance Line on TNNDancin' at the Hot Spots on TNNDate Plate on the Food NetworkDivine Canine on Animal PlanetDIY to the Rescue on DIYEarthguide on the Discovery ChannelEasy Does It on the Discovery ChannelEd the Plumber on DIYElvis Presley's Graceland on the Discovery ChannelElvis Presley's Memphis on the Travel ChannelExploring America on the Travel ChannelFamily Table with Naomi Judd on the Food NetworkFloors, Doors & Windows on DIYFreeform Furniture on DIYGambling Games – Beating the House on the Discovery ChannelGambling Games – Why the House Wins on the Discovery ChannelGarage Mahal on DIYGood Life with Eddie Ellis on HGTVGreat Train Stations on the History ChannelGrounds for Improvement on DIYHappy Trails Theatre on TNNHardscapes on DIYHelp on the Homefront on DIYHey Dude on NickelodeonHigh Roller's Vegas on the Discovery ChannelHigh Roller's Vegas 2 – The New Breed on the Discovery ChannelHomebodies on TLCHomebuilding Digest on HGTVThe Human Canvas on TLCHuman Canvas 2 – Scared Skin on TLCI-40 Paradise on TNNKitchen Accomplished on the Food NetworkKnight School on ESPNLie Detector on Court TVLittle People: Big Conventions on the Travel ChannelMailorder Makeover on Fine LivingMaterial Girls on DIYMelody Ranch Theatre on TNNMove it Outside on DIYNaomi's Country Stars on the Food NetworkNick America on NickelodeonNon-Stop Slots on the Travel ChannelPickin' at the Paradise on TNNRandy Travis Happy Trails on TNNReady for the Road on TNNRemodeling and Decorating Today on TNNRobot Rivals on DIYRollerjam on TNNRollerjam Reborn on TNNScore on MTVShadetree Mechanic on TNNTag Team on the Game Show NetworkTattoo Crazy on the Travel ChannelTough Car Challenge on TNNTravel Quest on A&EUS Poker Championship on the Travel Channel and ESPNUltimate Workshop II on DIYVegas Deals Revealed on the Travel ChannelWeekend Mechanic on DIYThe Whole Picture on DIYWish You Were Here on TNNWorld Series of Poker on the Discovery ChannelThe World's Largest Hotel on the Discovery ChannelYour Home Studio on TNN