The Daily Populous Friday August 23rd, 2024 day edition
Authored by globalnews.ca and submitted by ethereal3xp

Send this page to someone via email

Fast food giant Chick-fil-A has ruffled feathers over new reports claiming the company is working to expand its chicken sandwich and waffle fry empire into the entertainment space.

Chick-fil-A is apparently moving quickly to create its very own streaming platform with a slate of original and licensed content, Variety and Deadline reported Wednesday.

The service won’t just be chick flicks, either. The company has reportedly been in talks with various Hollywood production companies to create “family-friendly, mostly unscripted original shows.”

Variety reported Chick-fil-A has already secured a game show from Glassman Media (creators of The Wall) and a 10-episode series by the talent company Sugar23, whose CEO Michael Sugar produced the movie Spotlight and the show 13 Reasons Why.

Reports of the Chick-fil-A streaming platform came as an unexpected bombshell to many skeptics on social media.

“Chick-Fil-A streaming service” is crazy. We have lost the plot entirely. Tear it all down. We need to go back to three big broadcast networks and go from there. — Maicol 📺 (@michaelcollado) August 21, 2024

“I like some of the Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, wtf do they know about streaming,” one doubter posted on X.

I like some of the Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, wtf do they know about streaming https://t.co/XtKU46DIlu — 1017 Van (@VanFromNY) August 21, 2024

Some joked the Chick-fil-A streaming platform would not function on Sundays, since the restaurant has historically closed on the day because the company’s Christian founder observes the Sabbath, which maintains Sunday is for rest and worship.

When you try to watch Chick-Fil-A content on Sundays…. https://t.co/3cDJ61RjEd pic.twitter.com/r82nHIZyu9 — Chris James (@ChrisJTheGenius) August 21, 2024

If Chik-fil-a can afford to spend millions of dollars on a streaming platform, they can afford to pay their workers a living wage. https://t.co/YWK9yGAQws — Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) August 21, 2024

Many other critics pointed to Chick-fil-A’s past donations to anti-LGBTQ2 organizations and speculated whether or not the brand’s streaming platform would also be centred around Christianity. (Chick-fil-A in 2019 said it would cease donations to the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, both of which have condemned homosexuality.)

Chick fil a be like “come for the homophobic chicken, stay for the streaming service steeped in bigotry and Christian nationalism” https://t.co/TxdK4pt18m — Brandon Mizroch (@Branmiz25) August 21, 2024

chick fil a can only be starting a streaming platform for religious propaganda. they’re gonna get 7th heaven reruns day ONE — donut 🍩 (@speckops) August 22, 2024

The entertainment space — particularly streaming — is incredibly competitive, but Chick-fil-A isn’t the only familiar food brand to venture into content creation as a means of advertising and revenue.

Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Companies including Starbucks and Coca-Cola have already made the leap. In June, the coffee giant announced its Starbucks Studio project to create content, while Coca-Cola has already released Christmas films for Amazon Prime Video, one of which stars Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer.

Beyond food, Lyft last year released a seven-episode YouTube trivia game show, entitled Lucky Lyft, hosted by Bob the Drag Queen.

Even Chick-fil-A has already dipped its toes (or rather, wings) into content creation. The company has released animated short films on its social media accounts, with the most recent uploaded only a month ago. The short, titled Rocky Road, sees three animated cows infiltrate a truck shipment of rocky road ice cream.

Chick-fil-A is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the U.S., and last year earned over US$21 billion (C$28.55 billion).

The company is in the midst of a larger rollout to Canada, where only a few locations exist in major cities across the country. In February, Chick-fil-A said it has plans to open 20 restaurants in Alberta alone by 2030.

revtim on August 23rd, 2024 at 02:07 UTC »

I'm gonna guess it's cartoon chickens preaching against LGBTQ+

TopLingonberry4346 on August 23rd, 2024 at 01:40 UTC »

Haha in complete competition with Truth Social's planned far right streaming service. DJT stock gonna tank even faster.

witticus on August 23rd, 2024 at 01:15 UTC »

You know what they say, the best time to start a streaming service is when everyone is tired of streaming services.