Channel 4 takes stake in Barcroft

Keeping up its recent investment momentum, the UK’s fourth largest broadcaster, Channel 4, has taken a minority stake in Barcroft Holdings.



Channel 4 Barcroft 2 June 2016The move by Channel 4 represents its first Growth Fund investment in a British multimedia content company specialising in content creation and digital distribution, as part of the corporation’s wider digital innovation strategy. The new investment extends the fund’s business portfolio beyond the traditional UK independent production sector.

Barcroft Holdings creates, licenses, distributes and publishes news and factual content featuring ‘the amazing side of life’ across its constituent core businesses: Barcroft Media, Barcroft Productions, Barcroft TV and branded content arm Barcroft Plus. The former is an established editorial content agency which licenses and distributes text, photography, TV documentaries and short-form video clips to producers, publishers, broadcasters and digital platforms in over 50 countries.

For its part, Barcroft Productions creates original linear and digital TV programming for brands and a broad range of UK and international networks including recently announced The Outsiders (MTV), multiple series of Body Bizarre (TLC), Inside The KKK (Channel 4) and Bear Grylls: Man vs. Everest (Discovery).

With this latest addition, the Channel 4 Growth Fund’s latest investment has grown its portfolio to ten UK-based businesses, with Barcroft joining Arrow International Media, Eleven Film, Lightbox Media, Popkorn Media, Renowned Films, Spelthorne Community Television, True North Productions, Voltage TV Productions and sports indie Whisper Films.

Commenting on the investment, David Abraham, chief executive of Channel 4, said: “As Channel 4’s growth in online and commercial innovation continues apace, it’s an exciting time for our Indie Growth Fund to make its first investment in a future-facing business with both content creation and multi-platform distribution capabilities. Barcroft’s ability to connect with younger audiences globally, and their work with different formats, platforms and brands, aligns with our own commercial growth and we look forward to sharing our expertise to help Barcroft grow and to develop 4’s wider digital strategy.”

“The Barcroft businesses have grown quickly, particularly over the past two years,” added Sam Barcoft, CEO of Barcroft Holdings “The time is now right to build out our content and distribution offering, particularly in television production and the branded content space through Barcroft Plus. For many years Channel 4 has proven that successful disruption at scale and constant innovation are its core strengths, which makes them the perfect partner for us.”