Hot Ones Changes Hands After $82.5M Deal

Celebrity talk show Hot Ones, known for its spicy chicken wings and tough questions, has been sold by First We Feast to a group of investors. The deal includes host Sean Evans, founder Chris Schonberger, and other notable producers like Pod Save America’s Crooked Media and Rhett & Link’s Mythical Entertainment.

First We Feast will become an independent multi-platform media company under the leadership of CEO Chris Schonberger and Chief Creative Officer Sean Evans. Despite being sold to Buzzfeed, the production arm remains with First We Feast.

The show has produced 350 episodes and boasts over 14 million subscribers on YouTube, with a total of 4 billion views. Celebrities like Gordon Ramsay, Jennifer Lawrence, and Ryan Reynolds have appeared on the show. A live version of Hot Ones is set to launch on Netflix later this year.

Season 26 of the show premieres on January 23, ahead of its 10-year anniversary in March. Evans expressed excitement about continuing to host the show, which has become a cultural phenomenon. Schonberger highlighted First We Feast’s potential for growth and expansion into new areas like live events and talent acquisition.

Source: https://deadline.com/2024/12/hot-ones-new-investment-1236201423