Endeavor Invests in Velvet Hammer Media

Endeavor has made a minority investment in Velvet Hammer Media (VHM), the non-scripted production company co-founded by former HBO Max execs Jennifer O’Connell and Rebecca Quinn.

Launched by O’Connell and Quinn in February, with Nick Alarcon on board as VP, VHM has landed orders for The Big Bakeover for The CW and Empty Nest Refresh for Roku, with development deals and projects in the works at Netflix and NBCUniversal, among other platforms.

Rebecca Sanhueza, executive VP of content strategy and development and head of non-scripted content at Endeavor, noted: “Over the course of their careers, Jen and Rebecca have developed and produced some of television’s most provocative shows, entertained broad audiences, fueled the zeitgeist and reflected our culture in dynamic and surprising ways. The moment we learned they had branched out on their own, we wanted to be in business with them. We believe in their bold, creative point of view and independent thinking, and their dedication to inclusivity and accessibility. We’re thrilled to partner on the incredible storytelling opportunities ahead.”

O’Connell and Quinn added: “Since starting VHM, we have been inspired by the support and well wishes we received from across the industry, including from our colleagues and crew we’ve worked with over many years. For the last several months, we’ve had the privilege of connecting with Rebecca Sanhueza and the team at Endeavor, who have shown a true understanding of what we aim to achieve and an unwavering commitment to our vision. As a result, during this process, our confidence in building a successful relationship with Endeavor has surged, driving us to seize every opportunity. We are deeply appreciative for the chance to build VHM into a powerhouse production company and, via our Inside Access program, a force for progress in unscripted.”

O’Connell was previously executive VP of non-fiction and live-action family originals at HBO Max, while Quinn was senior VP of non-fiction original programming.