Channel 4 invests in Arrow Media, Lightbox, Popkorn and True North
Channel 4 has taken a minority stake in a quartet of independent production companies through its £20m growth fund as part of efforts to nurture small and medium-sized creative businesses.
Arrow Media, Lightbox, Popkorn and True North will each benefit from this largesse following a selection procedure overseen by the broadcaster to ensure there was clear opportunity for growth and adding value to the wider UK creative sector.
Channel 4’s chief executive David Abraham said: “This is a significant moment for Channel 4 as we help support talented creative companies with our Growth Fund investments.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to invest in four diverse British independent producers and I hope both Channel 4 and the wider industry will benefit from their future success.
"This is just the start and we will be announcing more deals over the course of the next year."
Andrew Sheldon, co-founder and creative director at True North added: “We’re confident that entering into a partnership with Channel 4 will be a game changer for True North. Television is a mercurial business, and having a world class broadcaster as a stakeholder will be an enormous advantage as we grow the company nationally and internationally in such a rapidly changing environment. By return we’ll be aiming to enhance Channel 4’s reputation for supporting the independent production community as a whole, particularly outside of the M25.”
Channel 4 is currently accepting submissions for its next round of investment which will be announced at the end of March 2015.