In this episode of Culture and Code, we sit down with Colin Petrie-Norris, founder and CEO of Fairground Entertainment, a new AI-powered studio and streaming platform backed by $4 million in seed funding. Colin previously founded Xumo, one of the most successful platforms in the free ad-supported television (FAST) space before selling to Comcast in 2020.
We explore the evolution from FAST TV to AI storytelling, examining how distribution strategies, advertising models, and creator empowerment translate to this new frontier. Colin discusses why 2024-2025 represents the optimal timing for AI entertainment, the importance of maintaining storytelling quality alongside visual innovation, and how Fairground plans to build a global creator community.
From public domain characters like Dracula and Robin Hood to innovative advertising integration, discover what it takes to build sustainable ecosystems where AI-assisted creators can thrive professionally.
Guest Bio
Colin Petrie-Norris was a pioneer in the free, ad-supported television (FAST) space as the founder of Xumo. Now he’s hoping to stake a claim on the future of AI entertainment.
Petrie-Norris’ new company is Fairground Entertainment, a studio and streaming distribution service focused exclusively on AI-generated TV series. He’s raised a $4 million seed round from a syndicate of investors led by Viant Technology, the programmatic advertising company that was one of the founding partners of Xumo alongside Panasonic.
