| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Reality television |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Matt Sharp |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | Matt Sharp (CEO) Bob Larson (president) |
| Parent | Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction (2012–present) |
| Website | sharpentertainment |
Sharp Entertainment, LLC is a television production company based in Manhattan, New York. Founded by Matt Sharp in 2003, they have produced thousands of hours of programming in reality television. [1] They produce TLC's top rated television franchise, 90 Day Fiancé , which consists of 6 spin off series. [2] The February 23, 2020 premiere of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days had 3.3 million viewers, putting TLC in the #2 spot for the night. [3] Some of their other hits include Love After Lockup (We TV), Man v. Food (Cooking Channel), Marrying Millions (Lifetime), Doomsday Preppers (National Geographic), Extreme Couponing (TLC), and The Fabulous Life (VH1). [4]
Sharp Entertainment was acquired by CORE Media Group in 2012, [5] which was relaunched as Industrial Media in 2018. [6] On March 2, 2022, the company became part of Sony Pictures Television after its acquisition of Industrial Media and subsequent rebranding as Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction in November. [7]
In 2014, Mother Jones revealed that Animal Planet’s hit Call of the Wildman repeatedly staged wildlife encounters, imported coyotes without permits and concealed animal neglect to manufacture drama on camera. [8] The exposé triggered formal investigations by Kentucky wildlife officials, the USDA, PETA, and the Humane Society—ultimately resulting in a fine for the production team. [9]
In 2018, New York’s Attorney General reached a $226,000 settlement with Sharp Entertainment after a state investigation found the company had failed to pay overtime to production assistants and associate producers working on its shows. The investigation revealed that these crew members regularly worked over 40 hours per week without receiving the legally required overtime premiums, prompting the agreement to compensate affected employees and bring Sharp into compliance with state labor laws. [1] [2]