Showrunner is a generative artificial intelligence platform that allows users to create complete animated TV shows and episodes by providing simple text prompts. The platform was developed by the AI startup Fable, which was founded in January 2018 by Edward Saatchi and Pete Billington. Fable initially specialized in virtual reality content, and its vision for Showrunner emerged from this foundation. Showrunner allows for a more interactive, two-way entertainment experience for users.
A key development that preceded the official launch of Showrunner was Fable's research project using its proprietary AI called SHOW-1. In 2024, SHOW-1 generated nine unauthorized but highly viral South Park episodes. The episodes demonstrated the technology's potential for creating animated, episodic content from simple prompts.
In July 2025, Fable secured funding from Amazon's (AMZN 0.82%) Alexa Fund to further build out the Showrunner platform. Fable officially launched its streaming service and AI animation platform Showrunner to the public shortly after. The public launch came after several months in a closed test with 10,000 users. Showrunner launched with two original series, including Exit Valley, a satire of Silicon Valley, and Everything Is Fine, a comedy about a couple lost in an alternate world.
The Showrunner platform enables users to create and share their own AI-generated episodes based on both original ideas and officially licensed intellectual property. It blurs the line between viewer and creator, letting people enter a virtual world, customize characters, influence storylines, and share their creations with others. To create with Showrunner, users provide short descriptions of their desired characters, settings, and plot points. The AI's SHOW-1 model then handles the scriptwriting, character animation, dialogue synthesis, performs voice acting, and handles editing to create a watchable episode.
Could platforms like Showrunner someday compete with the likes of Netflix (NFLX -0.71%) and other streaming giants? That reality does still seem a long way off, but Fable has dubbed Showrunner the “Netflix of AI.” This could signal that Fable's ambitions for the platform will be wide-ranging in the years to come. If you’re curious about how to invest in Showrunner, or interested in a potential initial public offering (IPO), here’s what you need to know.
IPO
Is it publicly traded?
Is Showrunner publicly traded?
Showrunner is not publicly traded. The AI-powered streaming platform is a product of Fable Studio, a private company backed by investors including Amazon.
IPO
When will Showrunner IPO?
There is no public information about a future Showrunner IPO. It is a private AI platform developed and owned by the start-up Fable. Any future public listing would likely entail Fable’s IPO, and no such announcement has been made at this time.
How to invest
How to buy Showrunner stock
As of late 2025, you couldn't buy stock in Showrunner through traditional exchanges because it is a private company. Parent company Fable doesn’t seem to have any near-term plans to go public either.
However, if you’re interested in gaining exposure to the same general industry that Showrunner operates in, there are some adjacent companies to consider that are publicly traded and could be intriguing to long-term investors.
Netflix
Netflix maintains its dominance in the world of streaming with a vast library of popular original content, a strategy that remains integral to its success. Despite a crowded streaming landscape, Netflix remains the most-watched subscription service in the U.S. and is expected to lead the market in the coming years.
A successful crackdown on password sharing has contributed to revenue growth and stronger subscriber engagement. Its newer ad-supported tier is also seeing impressive adoption in its addressable markets that continue to drive overall revenue and profitability gains.
Netflix uses AI to create personalized content recommendations that suggest to viewers what to watch next, to auto-generate thumbnails, and to optimize streaming quality. Netflix is also leveraging generative AI in production to cut costs and accelerate visual effects, and is developing AI for personalized advertising to better integrate products with its content.
Amazon
Amazon started as an online bookseller but has expanded into a global technology giant that provides a vast range of products, entertainment, and tech services to millions of customers worldwide. The company continues to be a powerhouse of profits and cash flow. Amazon leverages AI across its different businesses, from its core retail operations and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to its logistics, entertainment, and advertising arms.
When it comes to its streaming platform, Amazon is integrating AI into its media products to achieve improvements in viewing quality, personalized content, and new advertising tools. The company is also investing in various AI-native content creation platforms, including Showrunner.
Adobe
Adobe (ADBE 2.26%) controls a vast ecosystem of creative and document management applications, with most of its revenue coming from its sticky, recurring subscription model. Rather than building an entirely new platform like Showrunner, Adobe is embedding its generative AI model, Firefly, into its existing professional tools, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat.
This allows creative professionals to enhance their workflows without abandoning their existing software. Firefly goes beyond text-to-image, with features for generating video, audio, and vector graphics from text prompts. Adobe’s growing list of features also allows users to generate cinematic video footage, b-roll, and special effects from text or image prompts.
Steps to investing
Key steps to invest
If you’re going to buy shares of any publicly traded stock, here’s what you need to know.
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Profitability
Is Showrunner profitable?
As a newly launched platform, Showrunner AI is not currently profitable, but it is strategically positioned for generating future revenue. The platform was in the very early stages of monetization in late 2025 and recently secured investment from Amazon's Alexa Fund to build out its service.
Showrunner is free to use currently. However, management eventually plans to charge monthly subscription fees between $10 and $40 for credits that allow users to generate their own AI-created content. These credits will be used to generate new scenes and episodes.
A key part of Showrunner’s business model will entail a revenue-sharing system designed to incentivize creators. Creators of original shows will receive a portion of the revenue when other users spend credits to build upon or remix their content. This would allow creators to earn money if their AI-generated shows go viral and for the platform to profit from user-driven engagement.
Showrunner is also reportedly negotiating licensing agreements with major Hollywood studios, such as Disney (DIS -0.72%). Licensing deals would allow the platform to feature popular intellectual property like famous Disney characters, which users could then pay to interact with and create content based on.
The company also produces its own content in-house to seed the platform, and is likely to continue doing so. These original shows would serve as examples and starting points for users to remix and build upon, while generating additional revenue for Showrunner’s business.
Should I invest?
Should I invest in Showrunner?
As a privately held start-up, Showrunner is not available for public investment. To invest in a private company like this, you typically must be an accredited investor or find shares on a secondary market.
As an individual retail investor, you may consider buying shares of companies involved in the AI content creation and/or streaming space, such as Adobe, Netflix, Disney, or Amazon.
ETFs
ETFs with exposure to Showrunner
There are numerous exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold major names in the modern world of AI, media, and streaming, including the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ 0.39%), the Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM 0.03%), and the SPDR Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Fund (XLY -0.72%).
Related investing topics
The bottom line on Showrunner
Investing in the AI platform Showrunner is currently restricted to accredited investors, venture capital firms and institutional investors that provide funding directly to Fable, which remains a private company.
Retail investors cannot buy stock in Fable or the Showrunner platform. That said, there are plenty of publicly traded names to consider if you want to capitalize on the future of media, streaming, and the AI revolution.
FAQ
Investing in Showrunner FAQ
What is Showrunner AI?
Showrunner AI was developed by Fable Studio and is backed by Amazon's Alexa Fund. It’s a platform that uses generative AI to allow users to create animated TV shows from prompts. It handles all aspects of production, including scriptwriting, character design, animation, voice acting, and editing to produce polished episodes.
Who owns Showrunner AI?
Showrunner AI is owned by Fable Studio, a San Francisco-based startup.
Can I invest in Showrunner?
As of 2025, you cannot invest in Showrunner directly, as it is a product of the privately held company Fable Studio. Public stock market investments are not available, but certain individuals may be able to invest through private funding rounds.
Is Showrunner AI publicly traded?
Showrunner is not a publicly traded company.
