The List: Knoxville-area production companies

Scripps Networks Interactive far and away dwarfs any other production company in our area on our list of local production companies ranked by employment.

Its 1,050 employees produce only its own content for its TV networks. Scripps also sometimes employs other companies on the list who may submit series pilot ideas for the company's successful HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and GAC channels.

However, many of the other companies on our list, while having only double-digit employment numbers, specialize in helping others get content ready to air.

No. 2 Jupiter Entertainment produces prime time series and specials for cable networks including Discovery, TLC and Animal Planet.

Rivr Media, founded in 1995, handles cable television production, but also offers commercials and custom Web site design. The company is also expanding into scripted productions. In late 2012 Rivr Media CEO Dee Haslam and her father, veteran producer Ross Bagwell Sr., launched the feature film studio Nest Features. The studio aims to produce between two to three feature-length films a year with a largely regional cast and crew. The studio's second feature film, Up the River, will be filmed locally in Knoxville with production set to begin this fall.

This year's list has a few noteworthy changes to report.

Look for growth in next year's data on local firm Digital Media Graphix. The firm announced it would acquire marketing firm Bluegill Creative in June of this year. The company will move forward as DMG Bluegill. Parker Frost, partner of DMG, says the two companies hope to grow their national client list by combining talents.

The Frame Theory maybe be new name to the list, but the company is really the newest incarnation of DoubleJay Creative. The company changed ownership in 2011 and has since made a few changes, including a new location, hires and clients. Owners Brandon and Sarah Ward say the new name best reflects their style of digital storytelling.

While the vast majority of companies on our list make their home in Knoxville, there are a few exceptions.

New to the list this year, M&M Productions USA is based in Oak Ridge and provides corporate audiovisual services, mobile broadcast production, live events. Outside of cable programming, it also counts as clients Oak Ridge National Laboratories, DECA and WBIR.

Others include Kennedy Maxwell Motion Picture Productions in Maryville and Noel Studios in Walland, Tenn.

For our full list of Knoxville area production companies ranked by local employment, visit knoxvillebookoflists.com.