The Channel’s Birth Story
Chad Crawford, a 3rd generation Floridian, grew up loving film and Florida. Chad felt called to serve his country after high school and joined the Navy. He would go on to attend Full Sail University to begin his career in film and television. Chad and his wife and business partner, Kristy, would create Crawford Entertainment in 2005. The company produced corporate videos for national brands like Reebok and Audi. The Crawfords began looking for the next BIG thing and saw a need for a TV series that showcased Florida beyond the theme parks and beaches. In 2009, how to Do florida the TV series was born. Funny story originally, Chad was not supposed to be the host. After a frustrating talent search Chad's wife Kristy suggested he try hosting the show. As the Director, Chad was reluctant. But after giving it a try on a show filmed in New Smyrna Beach, he realizes maybe this could work. So after the 13th season,132 episodes, and 3 Emmy awards it's safe to say Kristy was right.
This would ignite Crawford’s passion for Florida-focused programming. Later launching “The Outsiders Club,” an outdoor
series for kids, “Flip My Florida Yard,” and “Protect Our Paradise.” Specials and documentaries that would air on CBS, NBC, Discovery Network, Travel Channel, and PBS.
At this point, Crawford Entertainment was 18 years old, had won 6 Emmy Awards, worked with major brands and organizations, and produced over 220 hours of Florida programming. In the early 2000s, Netflix began to disrupt the way content was distributed. Crawford saw an opportunity to deliver programming directly to their fans. With a large existing library and a loyal following, they developed a streaming channel, and Discover Florida Channel (DFC) was born. Fast forward to 2024 and Crawford is all in, delivering groundbreaking content on a paid membership platform. As DFC membership base grows, so does the ability to deliver shows that inspire, educate, and entertain.
“We are creating a new category in the streaming industry space, I like to call it geotainment”- Chad Crawford
Crawford defines geotainment as content that targets viewers living or interested in a specific geographic location. Crawford wants the content to feel familiar and hyper-local but professionally produced. They have partnered with producers across the state to create original content in a wide variety of categories. They are growing the channel audience and library everyday. We hope you enjoy the channel and feel free to drop us a note and let us know how we are doing. - Enjoy
Email us: Info@discoverflachannel.com
Chad Crawford, a 3rd generation Floridian, grew up loving film and Florida. Chad felt called to serve his country after high school and joined the Navy. He would go on to attend Full Sail University to begin his career in film and television. Chad and his wife and business partner, Kristy, would create Crawford Entertainment in 2005. The company produced corporate videos for national brands like Reebok and Audi. The Crawfords began looking for the next BIG thing and saw a need for a TV series that showcased Florida beyond the theme parks and beaches. In 2009, how to Do florida the TV series was born. Funny story originally, Chad was not supposed to be the host. After a frustrating talent search Chad's wife Kristy suggested he try hosting the show. As the Director, Chad was reluctant. But after giving it a try on a show filmed in New Smyrna Beach, he realizes maybe this could work. So after the 13th season,132 episodes, and 3 Emmy awards it's safe to say Kristy was right.
This would ignite Crawford’s passion for Florida-focused programming. Later launching “The Outsiders Club,” an outdoor
series for kids, “Flip My Florida Yard,” and “Protect Our Paradise.” Specials and documentaries that would air on CBS, NBC, Discovery Network, Travel Channel, and PBS.
At this point, Crawford Entertainment was 18 years old, had won 6 Emmy Awards, worked with major brands and organizations, and produced over 220 hours of Florida programming. In the early 2000s, Netflix began to disrupt the way content was distributed. Crawford saw an opportunity to deliver programming directly to their fans. With a large existing library and a loyal following, they developed a streaming channel, and Discover Florida Channel (DFC) was born. Fast forward to 2024 and Crawford is all in, delivering groundbreaking content on a paid membership platform. As DFC membership base grows, so does the ability to deliver shows that inspire, educate, and entertain.
“We are creating a new category in the streaming industry space, I like to call it geotainment”- Chad Crawford
Crawford defines geotainment as content that targets viewers living or interested in a specific geographic location. Crawford wants the content to feel familiar and hyper-local but professionally produced. They have partnered with producers across the state to create original content in a wide variety of categories. They are growing the channel audience and library everyday. We hope you enjoy the channel and feel free to drop us a note and let us know how we are doing. - Enjoy
Email us: Info@discoverflachannel.com
