NM Governor Martinez Announces Rural Media Group Will Make NM Base for TV Production

Governor Susana Martinez Announces Rural Media Group Will Make New Mexico Base for TV Production
Group Purchases Former Imus Ranch in Ribera, NM

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced Rural Media Group has purchased the former Imus Ranch in Ribera, N.M. and will use the ranch as a TV production base for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel.

“It’s an honor to welcome Rural Media Group to New Mexico,” said Governor Susana Martinez. “For years, we’ve grown the film industry and made our state more-friendly for investment – now, we’re seeing industry leaders bring their productions to New Mexico.”

“Rural Media Group programming is currently distributed into more than 92 million homes internationally,” said Nick Maniatis, Director of New Mexico’s Film Office “We are very happy that Rural Media Group sees our landscape, culture and vibrant film industry as an inspirational home for their unique programming worldwide.”

Productions that will be produced in New Mexico include: “Best of America by Horseback,” “Debbie Duning’s Dude Ranch Round-Up,” “Gentle Giants,” and more. Production will begin in New Mexico in the spring of 2019.

“The ranch is setup perfectly to assist our desire to produce a wide variety of new television programs and series for both RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group, Inc. “The existing authentic old western town, indoor and outdoor arenas, along with over 30 miles of trails located on the 3,400 acres set against the beautiful New Mexico skyline will provide tremendous opportunities for these original productions.  We will only be limited by our own imagination.”

The western town set on the ranch may also be made available to outside productions. For more information, contact: info@rfdtv.com or patty@rfdtv.com.

Since 2011, Governor Martinez has bolstered economic development tools, cut taxes and fees 61 times, and rolled back unnecessary regulations and red tape to create a business-friendly environment in New Mexico. The Governor also expanded the film production tax credit for TV productions, to incentivize the growth of the film industry in New Mexico. Since then, New Mexico has seen 3 record breaking years of film, has hosted dozens of major productions, and has become home to the first U.S. production of the media giant Netflix. Now, New Mexico has the largest job gains in over a decade and is leading the nation in economic growth.