Penske Media Announces Acquisition of ATX TV
November 28, 2022, Austin, Texas – Today, Penske Media Corporation (PMC) announced the acquisition of Austin based ATX TV. Founded 12 years ago as an annual Television festival by Emily Gipson and Caitlin McFarland, ATX TV has evolved into a year-round business creating programming and experiences for a cultivated community of passionate television enthusiasts. ATX TV celebrates television and its highly engaged audience by programming impactful experiences and content 365 days a year. Uniquely positioned to attract television makers and consumers alike, ATX TV is a place for the discovery and exploration of television’s past, present and future.
Recognized for its yearly festival held in Austin, Texas, ATX TV Festival brings Industry and Consumers together for a 4-day anchor event in June. Attendees experience series specific and mixed topic panels with cast and creatives, intimate one-on-one conversations, premiere screenings and more. Topics range from industry deep-dives to fan-focused discussions, along with conversations on TV’s responsibility and impact on culture.
As part of the acquisition, ATX TV’s core team will remain unchanged. Co-Founders and Co-Presidents Emily Gipson and Caitlin McFarland will continue at the helm of the brand running the business, operations, partnerships, programming, and driving the core mission forward. Laura Kincaid continues in her role as Director of Operations as will Jennifer Morgan as Director of Programming. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We have long admired ATX’s commitment to creating unique content that celebrates every aspect of television,” said CEO and Founder of Penske Media, Jay Penske. “Emily and Caitlin have built an incredible community and world class programming over the years, and we look forward to helping them expand their footprint for an even bigger audience in the future.”
“Our vision for ATX TV is expansive,” said McFarland. “We have always had our eyes on creating year- round programming and engagement, but the pandemic marked an inflection point for us all. We realized that we needed to expand to digital content and grow beyond a yearly festival to service our business and our audience. Our partners needed more opportunities to reach audiences and our audience needed one another — but we, ATX TV, also needed more resources to achieve our very big goals. We are so proud of all we have done with our team, but we are ready for our next chapter of growth and are thrilled to have Penske Media as partners to help us achieve it together.”
“It’s hard to believe the first festival was ten years ago,” said Gipson. “At that time, we had no idea what it would become, but our vision has always remained the same: to create an inclusive destination for industry and consumer audiences to come together as one community to celebrate TV. Over the past decade, we have focused on creating curated content and producing high quality experiences that have allowed audiences to discover, discuss, debate, collaborate, interact, and enjoy all things television. Now with the support of Jay and Penske Media, we know the possibilities are endless of how we can grow our vision together.”
ATX Television Festival Season 12 will take place June 1-4, 2023. Badges are on sale now. For more information on the festival visit: https://atxfestival.com/
About Penske Media
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate audience. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media and a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, Vibe, IndieWire, Dirt, Gold Derby and Spy.com, among many others. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several vital cultural events such as SXSW, LA3C, and Life is Beautiful. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, PMC believes companies should not only be profitable but also forces for good.
About ATX TV
ATX TV is the parent company of ATX Festival, an annual event produced by ATX TV, taking place every June in Austin, TX. As the leading television festival, it brings together fans and industry to celebrate the television medium by looking at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. The festival consists of screenings followed by Q&As, panels, and events (parties, live music, meet-ups, super-secret happy hours, etc) and is known for reunions of both classic shows and cult hits. Screenings showcase never-aired pilots, canceled too soon series, and current favorites, as well as world premieres of new series. Panels span from industry deep dives to fan-focused conversations, along with discussions on representation (in front of and behind the camera) and responsibility in storytelling. The ATX TV audience is comprised equally of consumers and industry professionals, and ATX Television Festival is the only place they come together as one community to discuss and celebrate all aspects of #TVTogether. The Syndication Project (TSP) is a non-profit (501c3) that works in conjunction with ATX TV. With a mission of advocacy through storytelling, its focus has been partnering with various organizations and communities for a track at ATX TV Festival and year-round events. While ATX TV does currently fund and run TSP, it operates outside of the ATX TV umbrella. For more information on ATX TV visit: ATX.CO