Courtesy of Texas Country Reporter
Bob and Kelli Phillips
A Texas storytelling extraordinaire is adding an iconic brand to its toolbox.
Texas Monthly announced on Monday that it is acquiring Texas Country Reporter, the beloved television program Bob Phillips has made famous over the past 50 years by traveling across all of Texas telling the stories of the state’s fascinating personalities.
“Scott [Brown, Texas Monthly president] and I are delighted to announce today that we’ve reached an agreement for Texas Monthly to buy Phillips Productions,” Texas Monthly editor-in-chief Dan Goodgame writes in an online piece. “And we’re especially pleased that Bob and Kelli have agreed to stay on as hosts and consultants for the next two years.”
Dallas-based Phillips Productions employs nine full-time and contract video photographers, editors, and producers. Each year, the company produces 26 half-hour episodes of Texas Country Reporter. The episodes are broadcast on two dozen TV stations across Texas and are seen by 235,000 households weekly, according to the Texas Monthly. The program also airs on the RFD-TV cable channel, where it is seen by another 1.1 million viewers across the country each week. Replays of the show also attract about one million views a month on YouTube.
Texas Country Reporter is the longest-running independently produced television program in the nation and has been honored with more than 30 Emmy awards.
Goodgame writes that discussions about an acquisition began over coffee with Phillips, 70, and his wife Kelli in the Texas Monthly offices. Goodgame merely wanted to talk about coverage of the program’s 50th anniversary.
“At one point, I asked, ‘So, what’s next for y’all? Are you going to stay with the show for another 50 years?’ Bob glanced at Kelli, who nodded. He turned back to me and replied: ‘Could we talk confidentially?’ He explained that he and Kelli had received offers from potential buyers with lots of money but little commitment to quality storytelling about Texas. ‘We’re looking for somebody to take good care of our baby,’ he said, ‘and we think Texas Monthly would be great home for it, if you’re interested.’”
Says Bob Phillips in the Texas Monthly story: “We’re so proud of what we and our talented team have built at Texas Country Reporter. We’ve been looking for someone who could help us make sure it continues. And we’re confident that Texas Monthly will do that.”