Tyler Whetstone

tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com

Ross Bagwell Sr. created Cinetel Productions.

Cinetel was once the largest independent cable network program production company in the U.S.

Cinetel was sold to Cincinnati-based Scripps Howard Broadcasting, paving the way for Scripps Networks in Knoxville.

Bagwell's daughter is Dee Bagwell Haslam, CEO of RIVR Media.

Local businessman and entertainment promoter Ross Bagwell Sr., referred to by many as the godfather of cable television production in Knoxville, has had a career of innovative ideas.

His newest idea is big like the others, but this one involves water – a lot of water.

Bagwell, who owns and operates Bagwell Entertainment in Knoxville, has envisioned a manmade, computerized waterfall along the South Knoxville Waterfront that he originally called the Niagara Falls of the South. He has since changed the name of the project to Knox Falls.

The waterfall would have lights synchronized with music that could be enjoyed from the north side of the river. There would be an hourly show lasting 15-20 minutes.

The goal, he said, is to get some of the 9 million people who visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year to come a little north to Knoxville.

“I looked at the amount of people that go into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. If we could get 10 percent of those people to come to Knoxville for a day or an evening, the amount of money coming in would be phenomenal,” said Bagwell, who is Dee Bagwell Haslam's father. Haslam, wife of Jimmy Haslam, is the CEO of RIVR Media, a production company started in 1999.

“I just feel Knoxville is not taking advantage of the fact that tourism is only 30 minutes away and we’re not getting any of it,” Bagwell said.

The music wouldn’t affect South Knoxville residents or the businesses along the waterfront, but would be pointed toward downtown where there could be vendors and restaurants set up for the added tourists, he said.

The photo illustration he provided shows the South Waterfront with the Baptist Hospital complex, which has since been demolished. Regal Entertainment is now constructing its new headquarter facilities on the site. The One Riverwalk development will consist of 300 multifamily units, a student housing component, two professional buildings, a retail/restaurant component and a hotel, as well as the Regal headquarters.

Rendering of new Regal headquarters in Knoxville released

Bagwell estimated the waterfall project would cost a “few million dollars.” When asked if he would give money toward the project, Bagwell said he has spent money designing the idea and using a drone to capture aerial footage of the site. He has yet to submit the idea to the city.

Jesse Mayshark, communications director for Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, said the property Bagwell is considering for the waterfall is privately owned.

“It’s hard to imagine such a thing without the property owners being involved,” he said.

Bagwell created Cinetel Productions, once the largest independent cable network program production company in the country, with contracts to produce more than 3,500 television shows for seven national cable networks. Bagwell sold Cinetel to Cincinnati-based Scripps Howard Broadcasting in 1994, paving the way for Scripps Networks' presence in Knoxville, which immediately became headquarters to Home & Garden Television Network (HGTV).

Bagwell and his daughter Dee Haslam received the 2016 Outstanding Marketing Professional Award from the Knoxville Chapter of the American Marketing Association at the group's 28th annual honors ceremony, held in May at Scripps Networks Interactive headquarters. The group's highest honor recognized father and daughter for their lifetime achievement and innovative contributions in the field of marketing.