Um, Chick-Fil-A Is Starting a Streaming Service?

Soon, you’ll be able to get a fried chicken sandwich with a side of… reality television? Per Deadline, fast-food giant Chick-Fil-A is rapidly moving into the entertainment sector, with plans to launch a streaming platform of original content.

According to Deadline, the Atlanta-based chain restaurant has been working with a number of studios and major production companies to develop “family-friendly shows.” The focus is reportedly to develop original unscripted content, but the chicken streamer will also license and acquire content as well. The unscripted budget, according to the report, is believed to in the range of $400,000 per half-hour episode.

Television executive Brad Gibson who helped produce The X Factor on Fox and Top Gear on The History Channel, is reportedly spearheading the programming for the streamer. Chick-Fil-A’s streaming service is expected to launch this year, and apparently already has a few shows in development. Glassman Media, which produces the popular NBC game show The Wall, reportedly has a family-friendly game show in the works. Producer Michael Sugar’s Sugar23, which produced Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, also has a series in development that has reportedly received a 10-episode order from the fledgling streamer.

Of course, Chick-Fil-A is well known for more than just it’s chicken. In the past, the fast-food conglomerate with over 3,000 locations has made headlines for making sizable donations to charities that have expressed anti-LGBTQ views like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 2019, Chick-Fil-A pledged to stop donating to both organizations and would work exclusively with organizations that focus on education, homelessness, and hunger, both faith and non-faith based. Still, the company has a religious affiliation—all locations are still closed on Sundays because Chick-Fil-A’s Christian founder, S. Truett Cathy, believed that Sundays were for worship and rest. Also, Chick-Fil-A’s CEO, Dan Cathy, grandson of the founder, reportedly donated money to a charity in 2021 that gives to organizations fighting legislation that would protect LGBTQ+ rights. Vanity Fair reached out to Chick-Fil-A for comment.

With the reported plans of the Chick-Fil-A streamer, the possibilities are simply endless. What fast-food chain will be next? Is Starbucks+, WendysVevo, BurgerKingTube, or ShakeShackTV en route? When it comes to potential programming on Chick-Fil-A streamer, the mind reels. Will The Mostly Real Chickens of Fil-A come to a screen near you? Will Chick-Fil-A break with tradition and air content on Sundays? Will Hawk Tuah girl’s rumored reality show debut on the Southern streamer? (Given it’s family friendly focus, probably not). One thing’s clear, the fast food television floodgates have been opened. McDonalds, it’s your move.