Media Production

Media production companies

One of the regions best-kept secrets is our emerging media production segment.  A pool of world-class talent has been attracted to the region to staff companies such as Scripps Networks, which employs more than 800 locally and 1,300 across the country, producing programs such as HGTV, Food Network and DIY Network. 

More than two dozen media production firms are now located in the region, employing more than 1,000 fulltime full and nearly triple that on a freelance basis.  A variety of media is produced for television, classroom instruction and corporate uses. 

Pellissippi State Technical Community College offers Communications Graphics Technology, Photography, Video Production Technology, and Web Technology. Students earn an Associate of Applied Science degree (with concentrations in CGT, VPT, PHO, WEB) in a cross-disciplinary

Business Climate  
Pro-business environment - Favorable business tax climate consistently in the top 1/3 of U.S. states

• Attractive state, local, and utility incentives for new job creation and capital investment
• State taxes ranking among the nation's lowest 
  • No state property tax 
  • Competitive corporate taxes 
  • Available targeted jobs tax credit
• Competitive gas, water, and sewer rates   
  • Electricity generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority at rates 19% below the U.S. industrial average 
  • Electricity reliability at 99.999% since 2000
• Available Buildings and Sites
  • Building costs 19% below the national average (RSMeans Construction Index 2012)
  • Competitive lease rates
• Right-to-work state

Talent  

• Flexible, growing workforce of 570,000 in 15-county region
• Workforce of 780,000 in 32 laborshed counties
• A large and growing student population from the University of Tennessee along with 12 other 4 and 2 year colleges in the region 
• 65,000 college and university students
• Average wage 19% below the national average (BLS 1Q 2011) 
• An underemployed adult workforce in technical and professional positions
• Fastest growing metro area in the State of Tennessee
• Competitive workers compensation rates
• Customized workforce training
• Transferable skill sets
• Available part and full-time workers

Accessibility

• Major regional airport with more than 120 flights daily to 19 major U.S. destinations
• Located at the juncture of three major interstates I-40, I-75 and I-81
• 70% of the US market within a day's drive
• Robust telecommunications infrastructure

Technology

• Home of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Technology Corridor
• State-of-the-art telecommunications capabilities comparable to the Silicon Valley and Research Triangle
• Advanced communications infrastructure that supports the Oak Ridge National Laboratory available to companies