3G Productions eyes western expansion

With a half dozen episodes of a locally based advertorial television program under its belt, a Reno-based production company is looking to expand into Las Vegas, Los Angeles and other markets.

The company, 3G's Productions LLC, takes a different tack from other video production companies that sell advertisers time in which they are interviewed by a host for a program that is broadcast locally.

Juli Green, a founder of the company, says the company develops its video programming for immediate use on YouTube and other social media sites as well as traditional broadcasts.

The company's first program, "Shanda's Golden Ticket," airs at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on Charter Channel 3 in Reno and Channel 15 in Carson City.

The combination of traditional broadcast and social media has proven attractive enough to advertisers that 3G's founders Green, Andi Glover and Shanda Golden are close to recouping their initial investments in the self-funded company.

And they are examining the possibilities of launching similar programming to serve advertisers in other larger markets in the West.

"We've learned that our community is hungry for this idea," says Golden. "We're gung-ho and digging what we are doing."

Each of the programs includes segments on food, fashion, health and beauty, arts and entertainment, music, businesses and charitable organizations.

Golden, who also co-owns Bizarre Guitar and Guns in Sparks with her husband, Greg, is the on-air host. Guests, who purchase a designated spot of time in the half-hour program, have been briefed about Golden's questions before the cameras start rolling.

Early episodes have featured guests ranging from fitness trainer Camie Craigg to CPA Linda Green to punk rockers Pinky Polanski.

Juli Green, the owner of Nevada Casting, and Andi Glover, a theater producer and acting teacher, began working with Golden to create 3G's Productions and the new program early this year.