Channel 4: working across the UK
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Britain’s Creative Greenhouse Channel 4: working across the UK
Location, Location, Location Hollyoaks Posh Pawn
What’s
inside
Introduction02
At a glance 04
Map: Where we work 06
Indies08
Talent14
Map: Reflecting the UK 20
Spotlights22
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 01
Gadget Man
Introduction
Countdown
Channel 4 acts as a creative Throughout our history, Channel 4
has commissioned from a huge
Our strategy for building a sustainable
sector outside London focuses on Connecting
greenhouse. We nurture range of independent production facilitating contact between indies and
commissioners
companies across the UK and can point commissioners, seed-funding via our
and bring to fruition new to numerous success stories. We have Alpha Fund, investment in talent and
creative and digital ideas, a continuing ambition to build a network skills development, and therefore with indies:
of programme suppliers of the highest growing hubs of creative excellence
and in the process we drive calibre from across the UK. across the UK.
• We facilitated 258
economic growth, create Since its launch, Channel 4 has invested Since 2011, the Alpha Fund has
days of contact between
£12.3 billion in content, with £455 million provided seed funding to independent
jobs and support hundreds spent on UK-originated programming in production companies outside London commissioners and indies
of SMEs across the UK. 2015. Each year we work with nearly 300 to develop their creative offering. and creative companies
production companies across TV, digital The fund has helped to transform in the Nations in 2015
and film, accounting for 37% of all public the creative contribution of multiple
Channel 4 is unique among public service broadcasters’ spending on UK companies all over the UK, increasing • 525 attendees from over
service broadcasters in having a independent production. In doing so, we both their creative expertise and 338 production companies
publisher-broadcaster model. commission from more TV production business scale.
companies than BBC1, BBC2, ITV or
at 21 briefings, including 7
Unlike others, everything we air
is commissioned from external Channel 5, and more than ITV and We have regional offices in Manchester genre briefings and 4 shorts
production companies. Channel 5 combined. and Glasgow. The Manchester office briefings
houses our Northern sales team. Our
Alongside our not-for-profit model, As stipulated by Ofcom, 35% of Nations and Regions team, based in • Cities visited include
this means that Channel 4’s revenues all our hours and spend on original Glasgow, is a strategic arm of Channel 4 Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester,
are invested back into content, going programming must come from content commissioning. The department
Cardiff, Leeds, Bristol,
straight into the creative economy outside of London. Channel 4 has provides strategic input, development
further increased its commitment to funding via the Alpha Fund, creative Newcastle and Edinburgh
and supporting the independent
production sector – and all at no production in the devolved Nations, briefing and partnership to the best
from a quota of 3% to a commitment and most ambitious regionally-based • Our annual Meet the
cost to the taxpayer. In fiscal terms,
Channel 4’s activities generate a £1.1 that 9% of its main channel programme indies across the UK. Commissioners event
billion contribution to UK GDP each hours and spend will come from in London, run with PACT,
year, and support 19,000 jobs across the Nations by 2020. saw 46 commissioners
the UK. conduct 200 meetings with
independent production
companies over two days
02 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 03
At a
glance
Over £ bn
spent on content from
1 Food Unwrapped
Fifteen to One
outside of London in the
Cucumber
last 10 years
149m 53% 28m
9% of first-run
£ £ originations programme
hours were sourced
spent on production of first-run originations from suppliers in the
outside of London programme hours were spent on production
Nations (2015)
(2015) sourced from suppliers in the Nations (2015)
outside of London
39% of the value of 21 indie briefing 7% of the value of Ofcom target:
first-run originations sessions held outside first‑run originations 9% of Channel 4 main
was spent outside of London (2015) was spent in the channel programme
of London (2015) Nations (2015) hours and spend coming
from the Nations by 2020
04 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 05
Glasgow
Where Birmingham
we work Supershoppers – Firecrest Films
Homes by the Sea
– True North
Gadget Man – North One Television
Channel 4’s work and impact can be felt all
over the UK. The map opposite details the
locations of just some of our TV production
partners, Film4 shooting locations, Games Leeds
production partners, and our offices.
Television programmes All 4 Games Higher education
• Born Naughty? – commissions from partnerships and
Birmingham • Tag Games – Dundee PTS locations
(Maverick Television) • Chunk Games – Glasgow • Abertay University – Dundee
• One Born Every Minute – • Lucid Games – Liverpool • De Montfort University
Bristol (Dragonfly) • Pathos – Bolton – Leicester
• Dispatches – • Crash Lab – East Midlands • Durham University
Manchester (Blakeway) • Full Fat TV – Birmingham
• Big Bit, Paper Seven –
• Homes by the Sea – Brighton • Waddell Media – Belfast
Leeds (True North)
• Fifteen to One – Glasgow
• Trusted Developments – • Newry – Northern Ireland Cardiff
Oxford
(Remedy Productions)
• Strawdog Studios – Derby Independent production
• Unreported World –
• Evil Twin Artworks – Swindon company briefings
Oxford (Quicksilver Media)
• Underage and Gay – Glasgow, Manchester,
Cardiff (Rondo/Yeti) Film 4 shooting locations Cardiff, Leeds, Bristol,
• Food Unwrapped – • High-Rise – Belfast Belfast, PACT London
Revenge Porn – TiFiNi
Brighton (Ricochet) • Starred Up – Belfast
• Supershoppers – • The Selfish Giant – Bradford Channel 4 offices
Glasgow (Firecrest Films)
• Gadget Man – Birmingham
• The Lobster – Republic
of Ireland
Manchester, Glasgow,
London (Headquarters) Oxford Manchester
(North One TV) • 71’ – Liverpool, Leeds
• No Offence – and Blackburn
C4 Pop Ups
Manchester (Abbottvision)
• Jamie and Jimmy’s
• Catch Me Daddy – Oldham
Bournemouth, Norwich,
Brighton
• Macbeth – Scotland
Friday Night Feast – Wolverhampton, Preston,
• Under the Skin – Scotland
Brighton (Fresh One) Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff,
• Mr. Turner – South Yorkshire Doncaster, Corby, Leicester
• Revenge Porn – Unreported World – Quicksilver Media
• How I Live Now – Wales
Cardiff (TiFiNi)
• How to Talk to Girls at No Offence – Abbottvision
• Inside Lego At Christmas – Regional sales offices
Belfast (Waddell Media) Parties – Sheffield
Belfast, Dublin Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night
Feast – Fresh One
06 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 07
True North Leeds
Gok's Fill Your House for Free
Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It
Supporting indies True North is an independent production
company based in Leeds, producing
The Growth Fund has been
Raise the Roof
programmes across an eclectic range
of genres including documentaries, instrumental in supporting a
children’s content, factual, features, sustained period of expansion for
and factual entertainment. True North, helping the company
Glasgow build a bridge from its base in
From the early days hot-desking Creative Director, Sarah Walmsley says: Run by founders Andrew Sheldon and
Jess Fowle, and supported by Managing the North of England to the rapidly
at Channel 4’s Glasgow office, the “We’re keen to take on Channel 4
trajectory of Raise the Roof Productions trainees whenever the opportunity Director Marc Allen, True North’s hit evolving global television market.
has been impressive. arises. They’re always of the highest shows include Building the Dream,
Andrew Sheldon, Creative Director and Founder, True North
standard and working with them has, Homes by the Sea, Too Many Cooks and
Raise the Roof has gone on to produce without exception, been beneficial to The Last Leg Goes Down Under. In 2014,
242 hours of television for Channel 4. the company.” Channel 4 invested in True North through
Their most recent commissions include its £20 million indie Growth Fund, which
The company also provides an important
the returning series, Goks' Fill Your As well as welcoming trainees, Raise supports creative SMEs to grow and
training ground for new production talent
House for Free, and a brand new the Roof works closely with Channel 4 remain independent without the need
in the North of England. Their connection
format, Big House, Little House. to support skills and talent development to consolidate with other production
to Channel 4 has bolstered their
in Glasgow. They have received companies or seek private investment
long-standing commitment to nurturing
Launched in June 2010, they quickly development money through the Alpha loans. Channel 4’s investment was
diverse talent, with four BAME trainees
won their first commission, Vacation Fund and have worked together with critical in supporting True North to retain
recruited in the past 15 months, as well
Vacation Vacation, and moved into their Channel 4 on schemes to develop and expand its Northern base, without
as the placing of other candidates from
own space in The Hub at Glasgow’s more senior members of staff. the need to build a presence in London.
diverse backgrounds.
Pacific Quay. Their focus on long
running, returning formats, including Since Channel 4’s investment,
Phil Spencer: Secret Agent, has True North has expanded its presence at
allowed the company to invest in staff Media City in Manchester, grown its edit
and development. They now have They’re investing in us and we’re capacity across the company by 40% to
16 permanent members of staff, investing in them… the Nations 18 edit suites, and begun a campaign to
and in 2015 alone they issued win its first US commission. Hiring has
and Regions department have Building the Dream
372 freelance contracts. increased, with their headcount growing
been great champions of ours and from 80–100 in 2014 to 140–150 in 2016.
Raise the Roof has offered opportunities
have always had our back. There’s They have also doubled the amount of
to Channel 4 trainees, ranging from no doubt that their support has returning series on their slate, providing
researchers and coordinators to series helped secure commissions. a strong and sustainable revenue base;
producers and executive producers, indeed, revenues have doubled to just
and has found the experience Jane Muirhead, Managing Director under £10 million since Channel 4’s
mutually beneficial. investment. True North’s programmes
are now watched in more than 200
countries around the world.
08 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
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Supporting indies
Nine Lives Manchester
Yeti Wales
Based in Wales, Yeti Productions has
been successful in building key supply
relationships with both the Formats and The Nations and Regions department
Documentaries teams at Channel 4. The has helped Yeti immensely – with
company launched as Yeti in October advice, funding and active internal
2014 as a new company created by support at Channel 4. We feel we’ve
Rondo Media. While still part of Rondo,
Dispatches: Aldi’s Supermarket Secrets Dispatches, Benefits Britain: Universal Credit the team made their breakthrough with
had a real champion for both our
Channel 4 back in 2011, following Alpha programme ideas and our
Fund support in a taster tape simply capabilities as a supplier.
entitled Tattoo.
Based in Manchester, Nine Lives Media Paul Symonds, Producer/Director at Yeti
is an award-winning independent
At a time when news and current That led to a single and documentary
production company specialising
affairs can be dominated by the series commission with Channel 4, the
in current affairs, children’s and
company’s first network commission
documentary programming. Westminster agenda, Channel 4 alongside their considerable home-
continues to invest in unearthing grown success in Wales. Since that
Launched in 2007 by Cat Lewis, the
company employs 20 people and its
stories from all parts of the UK, early success, the company have
and supporting journalism that carved out a successful series of
slate includes high-impact investigations
originates outside London. formatted documentaries including
for Channel 4’s Dispatches current
Frozen at Christmas and Britain’s
affairs strand, overseen by Executive
Cat Lewis, CEO of Nine Lives Media Favourite Superhero; as well as
Producer Mike Lewis. Their film Aldi’s
the recent My Millionaire Dads
Supermarket Secrets, investigated
and Me.
the practices of the fast-growing
supermarket chain, won the highest-
In addition to commissioning, Channel 4 The company has also won a new
ever audience share for Dispatches,
works with Nine Lives Media and other daytime commission from Channel 4,
bringing in nearly 4 million viewers.
independent production companies Find It, Fix It, Flog It, a 20-part series
outside London to develop skills and which will premiere in late 2016.
Nine Lives’ documentary for Dispatches,
talent in investigative journalism. Nine
Benefits Britain: Universal Credit, looked
Lives provides placements for Channel
at the impact of the Universal Credit pilot
4’s Investigative Journalism Scheme,
schemes in the North West and is an
which includes mentoring and paid,
example of how Channel 4 sees the
practical hands-on experience in
benefit of working with local production
Manchester for people looking to pursue
companies, leveraging local knowledge Britain’s Favourite Superhero
a career in this highly specialised field.
and sources to seek out impactful stories.
10 WORKING
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WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 11
Supporting indies
Lime Pictures Liverpool
Full Fat TV Birmingham
Lime Pictures and Channel 4 have a long Set up in 2015 by Colette Foster in
and successful history – not least through Birmingham, the company first gained
the five episodes of Hollyoaks per week Channel 4’s commitment to support via the Channel 4 Alpha Fund,
that they have been producing for us Hollyoaks has enabled Lime which provided resources to employ
since 1995. Pictures to sustain over 300 Senior Development Producer Perjeet
permanent roles, meaningfully Aujla. It is a personal passion of
They are also responsible for a range Colette’s to work with talent who come
of other high profile programming
invest in the local infrastructure from the local area, and to deliver hit
including Celebs Go Dating for E4, and talent, providing a stable network shows from the Midlands.
ITVBe’s The Only Way Is Essex, Rocket’s foundation for the creation and
Island for BBC, and MTV’s Geordie Shore. retention of a strong craft base. In early 2016, the Nations and Regions
They also make The Singles’ Project, a Alpha Fund gave some further backing
dating show on Bravo that made Lime the Claire Poyser, Joint Managing Director (with Kate Little) to Colette’s continuing development
first UK producer of US real-time content. push, which has resulted in two new
single commissions from Channel 4
The All3Media-owned indie, headed up Features: Joe Wicks: Summer Body
Joe Wicks: Summer Body Coach
by joint Managing Directors Claire Poyser Hollyoaks Coach, following the Instagram
and Kate Little, is known for delivering sensation in his first TV pilot; and 24
distinctive projects with a huge social Hours Inside Your Body, a ground-
media and online presence, allowing the breaking Features commission.
key 16–24 audience to engage directly
with their favourite shows and channels. Gaining Alpha Fund backing has The support Full Fat TV has received
also been instrumental in helping from the Alpha Fund has been a huge
Lime has also collaborated with Channel 4 the company to gain investment. confidence boost for the company.
on initiatives such as the Northern Writers’ In 2015, Fremantle acquired a 25% It’s early days but we are mightily
Award (see page 20), the Channel 4 stake in Full Fat TV, seeing the
ambitious – we are creating a
Diversity Storylining Initiative and a recent company’s relationship with
collaboration with Directors UK that led to Channel 4 and its regional base sustainable Midlands base that
two female directors, Charlotte George as an attractive proposition. offers opportunities for talent from
and Claire Tailyour, joining a mentoring the region to grow their careers
scheme at Hollyoaks. without having to go to London.
Colette Foster, Founder
12 WORKING
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WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 13
Staffordshire
Fiona Wilson Glasgow
This Is England ‘90
Nurturing talent
Fiona shadowed Anouk on location,
Shane Meadows spent time in the edit and also had the
opportunity to shoot; one-third of the
footage in the final cut was actually
directed by Fiona.
Acclaimed writer and director Shane When Channel 4 commissioned a full
Meadows made his first documentary series of Britain’s Benefit Tenants, Fiona
for Channel 4 in 1995, before directing This Is England has been the perfect was asked to direct an episode, and
four feature films with Film4, and the example where an investment ten following a recommission, Fiona stepped
much-lauded semi-autobiographical years ago for a film has sparked off into the role of Series Producer.
TV drama trilogy spin-off from This Is over £12 million of production spend
England. Shane’s film and TV work with
Channel 4 has all been set and filmed
out of our Sheffield office.
Channel 4 develops new talent in
in the Midlands, often featuring young, Mark Herbert, Joint CEO Warp Films the Nations and Regions through
undiscovered local talent. Shadowing Anouk was an
shadowing, allowing production talent
to observe and absorb, first-hand, absolutely fantastic and invaluable
Shane’s career began at a local opportunity… the additional
the skills of more established
film centre in Nottingham, where he 2008 BAFTA for Best British Film,
borrowed a camcorder at weekends highlighting Meadows as one of the
production professionals. experience and support gave
and developed his technique of UK’s best directors. me a lot of confidence.
Fiona Wilson, currently at Scottish
film-making using his friends as
indie IWC, is just one professional Fiona Wilson, IWC
actors in a series of short films. In 2013, for his fourth collaboration
who has broadened her experience
with Film4, Meadows documented the
thanks to the success of this initiative.
In 1995 he was approached to direct reunion of one of Manchester’s biggest
Although experienced, Fiona had not Britain’s Benefit Tenants
TV documentary King of the Gypsies for bands, the era-defining Stone Roses,
yet directed a full hour for Channel 4
Channel 4. After writing and directing his who Shane cites as one of his main
Documentaries. When IWC won the
Midlands trilogy (Twenty Four Seven, A inspirations and the soundtrack for
commission for Britain’s Benefit
Room For Romeo Brass and Once Upon the This Is England generation.
Tenants, a single hour documentary,
a Time in the Midlands), Film4 funded
investment from the Nations and
Shane’s BAFTA-nominated thriller and Film4 continues to work with Meadows
Regions department meant that Fiona
cult classic Dead Man’s Shoes in 2003. and his long-term producing partner,
was able to shadow the director on
Mark Herbert of Sheffield-based Warp
the project, Anouk Curry.
This Is England was Meadows’ third Films. The relationship built by Film4
collaboration with Film4. Set in 1983, gave Channel 4 the opportunity to
it tells the story of Shaun, an 11-year-old support TV spin-offs This Is England
growing up in the North of England. The ‘86, ‘88 and ‘90, the latter winning
film was a critical success and won the three TV BAFTAs in 2016.
14 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 15Nurturing talent
Investigative
C4 Pop Ups Journalism Scheme
Glasgow, Preston, Norwich, Glasgow, Belfast,
Leicester, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Manchester,
Bournemouth, Belfast, Cardiff, Leicester
Corby, Doncaster
In addition to apprenticeships and work diversity of entrants into the creative Channel 4 is committed to pursuing
experience initiatives, C4 Pop Ups is an and digital industries, which in turn has high-quality investigative journalism and
outreach programme of skills workshops strengthened the sector in the Nations is known for its risk-taking, high-impact, The training I received changed
across the UK, promoting careers and Regions through a wider range agenda-setting news and current affairs my life, giving me the skills and
within the industry and unearthing of experiences and ideas. – reflecting its important remit to show the confidence to find stories
undiscovered talent. alternative viewpoints and stimulate and tell them in an engaging
The attendees were encouraging in debate. Investigative journalism is a
It’s an ambition of Channel 4 that their diversity: our research also found highly specialist field and Channel 4
and thoughtful way.
the people who make television that 44% did not have a degree-level has been working with production Kevin Anderson, AP at Firecrest Films, Glasgow –
programmes should be as diverse education and 28% came from companies and institutions across Channel 4 Investigative Journalism Scheme 2014
as the people who watch them. households receiving Income Support. the UK to train up a new generation of
We are therefore committed to ensuring Following the Pop Ups, 97% said that investigative journalists and widen the
that people from all backgrounds and they knew what to do next about a pool of talent to include people from
walks of life can successfully pursue career in the media/creative industries, diverse backgrounds. Channel 4’s Dispatches: Secrets of Cadbury
careers in the media industry. after experiencing the day. Investigative Journalism Scheme
provides on the job training with
In particular, we are deliberately Other examples of skills partnerships independent production companies
targeting young people from in the Nations and Regions include working on Channel 4’s Dispatches
disadvantaged backgrounds, and are Gen Up, a skills development strand and takes two sets of trainees:
focusing away from the main ‘media partnership with TRC Media, and entry-level and more experienced
hub’ cities. In 2015, our programme Dare to Be Digital, with Channel 4 candidates (for example at AP or
visited Bournemouth, Norwich, supporting and mentoring the University producer-level) who are looking to move
Wolverhampton, Preston and Glasgow, of Abertay’s video games competition. into more senior roles. The scheme has
reaching more than 600 young people included placements with independent
with its open days. production companies across the UK,
such as Matchlight and Firecrest Films The course, which has been developed
Local independent production and in Glasgow, Nine Lives Media in in partnership with Channel 4’s News
digital companies play a central role Manchester, Below the Radar and Erica and Current Affairs team, will cover areas
in these events, allowing local young C4 Pop Ups Starling in Belfast and True North in such as techniques of in-depth research,
people to understand what they do, Leeds. This collaboration has resulted including handling complex data,
network with them and hear about in the successful development and understanding financial information,
opportunities available to them in retention of new journalistic talent working undercover, using freedom of
their area. Channel 4 believes that this outside of London. information, the law, compliance and
scheme has helped to broaden the safety alongside filming and editing.
Channel 4 has also teamed up with As part of the course, which starts in
De Montfort University’s Media School September 2016, students will learn
in Leicester to launch a new Investigative how to identify, pitch, research and film
Journalism MA. investigative stories.
16 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 17Nuzhat Ali
Northern
Sharma Walfall
Writers’
Award
Nurturing talent
Nations and Regions As part of Channel 4’s 360° Diversity
Charter commitments, Channel 4
partnered with Northumbria University
December 2014. Her play When George
Came to Bradford was part of the
Bradford Literature Festival and has
Diversity Production and New Writing North on this new
award, to reach out to a diverse
spectrum of writers. The partnership
been recorded for the BBC Radio
website. Nuzhat is active in her
community as a member of the Muslim
Training Scheme pilot goes beyond simply developing a
resource-base for writer development:
the three organisations’ different
Women’s Council. Since winning the
award, she is working with Nicola
Shindler’s Red Productions, developing
networks, skills, experience and an original drama series.
With the aim of generating more The trainees will be working with indies knowledge create a unique and
diverse production talent at entry-level, including Icon Films, Rondo, RDF Bristol, powerful support structure for talent Sharma Walfall is a young writer-actor
the Nations and Regions Production Boomerang and Plimsoll. The scheme development. We have committed to from Manchester and a number of her
Training Scheme launched as a pilot is due to start in September 2016. the scheme for another three years. short films have gone into production.
in Glasgow in 2016. Winning the award has allowed Sharma
In parallel, we also invested in Through the award, Channel 4 time away from her job and to take up a
The scheme saw six new entrants mid-level talent in Glasgow, to help discovered some fantastic writing talent placement on Hollyoaks, where she
immerse themselves in paid work grow and develop the careers of in 2015: Nuzhat Ali is currently working is developing story ideas and writing
placements as trainee researchers high-potential people identified by with Red Productions and Sharma her own original Hollyoaks script.
and coordinators at four production indies. We supported two individuals: Walfall has taken up a placement
companies: Raise the Roof, IWC, at Raise the Roof we funded a six-month on Hollyoaks.
Remedy and Lion. Placements were role as shadowing Series Producer on
funded 50/50 by Channel 4 and the Gok’s Fill Your House for Free, and at Nuzhat lives in Bradford. She home-
host indies. IWC we funded a shadowing directing educated her two younger children for Winning the award has been an
placement on Location, Location, eight years and started writing when incredible experience, I’ve always
The placements were enhanced by a Location and Britain’s Benefit Tenants. they went on to further education. wanted to be a writer for television
three-week training programme, aiming Nuzhat was one of ten people selected
to give trainees’ careers a kick start with A number of our year-long but found it wasn’t easy to get into.
for the Street Voices 5 Play Writing
key skills and industry insights. paid placements under the main Having no previous TV writing
Course in October 2014, and she
Production Trainee Scheme will be followed this by being chosen for the experience, this award and
The placements were so successful that in the Nations and Regions. In Belfast, Dream Reality Radio competition in placement has been an amazing
all of the companies decided to extend host companies are Big Mountain and
opportunity. I am really grateful
the original contracts, which are now Waddell Media, and in Birmingham
due to end in September 2016. This Full Fat TV and 7 Wonder will be to win the award and recommend
augurs well as Channel 4 rolls out the hosting placements, which are due new writers to enter.
entry-level scheme in Bristol and Cardiff to start in September 2016.
Sharma Walfall
to support another six trainees.
18 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 19Four in a Bed
Reflecting the UK
Channel 4 seeks to reflect the length and breadth Gogglebox
of the UK in our programmes, from popular staple
programmes with contributors from across the Eden
UK to drama and comedy that portray life in a
particular region. This map shows just some
examples of regional portrayal in 2016.
Paul Merton’s Secret Stations
Drifters
Come Dine With Me No Offence
Hollyoaks
Amazing Spaces
Key
Amazing Spaces Eden
Come Dine With Me Drifters
Gogglebox Paul Merton’s Secret Stations
Hollyoaks No Offence Grayson Perry: All Man
Four in a Bed Grayson Perry: All Man
20 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 21Channel 4 introduced Random Acts Random Acts Network Centres, enabling
Random Acts
in 2011 to show films by artists (as as many young people as possible to
opposed to making programmes about access the programming, including in
them) and has since broadcast over areas where access to film and TV
500 short films from renowned figures has been limited. The network has
including Ai Weiwei and Kate Tempest. successfully supported 134 young
artists to deliver 83 films to date
In 2016, Random Acts launched with (mid-2016).
renewed purpose: to work with more
established artists and allow them to The best films will feature on the
play with the form and premiere work Random Acts strand on television and
from them, as well as to identify and online, alongside films by established
develop fresh and diverse creative talent artists commissioned directly by
The Snowman and The Snowdog
from across the UK, offering young Channel 4. By mid-2016, 75% of the
people aged 16–24 the opportunity to films reviewed by Channel 4 had
create high-quality short films. Over been selected for distribution online,
Made in Chelsea: The Game three years, Arts Council England has and two films (5%) had been selected
committed to invest £3 million in five for broadcast.
All 4 Games
All 4 Games comprises a team of then publish and promote the games
four games industry veterans based across all the channel’s networks.
in Glasgow, commissioning games Recently, Scottish-developed game We’re inviting artists to use TV as
linked to Channel 4 programming, and Super Arc Light was published by a canvas and let their imaginations
topping the App Store’s charts with All 4 Games to global recognition, run wild and create the work itself.
programme-linked games such as The boosted by international-featuring It’s liberating for them – hardly
Snowman and The Snowdog, Made in by Apple, and garnering coverage
Chelsea and Hollyoaks. Our mobile in The New York Times.
anyone gives them the budget and
game for Stand Up To Cancer, Reverse then says ‘go away and make it’.
The Odds, was developed by Chunk in Since 2012, All 4 Games has supported The heart and soul of Random Acts
Glasgow and has won various awards the video game competition Dare to lives across all our digital platforms
including a Digital Emmy. be Digital. It is run by The University to give artists more exposure than
of Abertay in Dundee, which provides
All games commissioned to date a £25,000 prize and mentorship for
ever before.
(September 2016) have been produced the winning student team to help them Pegah Farahmand, Editor, Random Acts
in the Nations and Regions, from establish a company and publish
locations including Dundee, Bolton, their first game.
Derby and Bristol.
Man Made Youth
All 4 Games aims to give small game
studios a route to market for their own
indie games; advise developers on how
to improve the quality, monetisation
and marketability of their games; and
London – ICA, South West – Calling
the Shots, South East – Screen South,
Midlands – Rural Media Company,
North – Tyneside Cinema
22 WORKING
ACROSS THE UK
WORKING
ACROSS THE UK 23Regional offices
Manchester regional office
Channel 4 has four regional offices: Glasgow
Glasgow, where the Nations and Channel 4’s Glasgow office is the
Regions and All 4 Games teams are only editorial office outside London,
based; Manchester, a Channel 4 Sales housing both the Nations and Regions
office; and two further Sales offices and All 4 Games teams.
in Belfast and Dublin.
The office is a hub for producer
Manchester meetings, briefings and events,
Channel 4 Sales in Manchester is and serves as a regular base for our
responsible for UK agency and client London colleagues when they are
relationships outside the South East in town for edits and meetings with
of England, creating a North West hub Scottish indies.
for our commercial, creative and
industry partners. TRC Media also operates from our office,
delivering high-end media training for
We work with these clients to Nations and Regions companies.
deliver activity across the full range of
Channel 4 commercial opportunities, While the Nations and Regions team
covering sport, sponsorship, digital, focuses on increasing production and
shorts, product placement and spend outside the M25 for the channel,
advertiser funded programming. All 4 Games works to give independent
games producers a publishing platform,
The channel’s growing regional sales as well as releasing games in conjunction
team in Manchester forms the core of with Channel 4 programmes.
the new premises, with an open hub
space with up to 15 hot desks and
meeting rooms for up to 60 people.
These facilities will be available to
Channel 4’s Growth Fund indies, and
its production, creative, commercial
and third-party sales partners,
as well as the Channel 4 Board,
Commissioning, Nations and
Regions and All 4 Games teams.
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