C4 Establishes U.K. Indies Investment Fund

LONDON: British broadcaster Channel 4 is set to launch a £20 million ($33.2 million) fund in the first quarter of this year to invest in small and mid-size independent production companies in the U.K.

The Channel 4 Growth Fund, announced by C4 chief executive David Abraham at last year’s RTS Cambridge Convention, will provide financing to indies to help them expand their businesses. The £20 million investment is initially expected to be over a period of three years, targeting television production and digital companies. A single investment will not exceed 24.9 percent. C4 expects to hold the stakes for up to five years. All returns will be put back towards the independent production sector, either in the form of new investments or additional program commissions.

The companies that C4 invests in will not receive output or minimum guarantees from the group's commissioning team.

The broadcaster is currently recruiting an exec to lead the fund, reporting to Glyn Isherwood, the group finance director. A Growth Fund Advisory Board will include industry figures from outside of Channel 4 and will provide advice on investments.

“Channel 4’s relationship with the U.K. independent production sector has always been at the heart of everything we do," Abraham said. "The launch of the Growth Fund gives us the opportunity to go even further in helping to nurture new and emerging producers by offering an important alternative funding stream. And, as a not for profit organization, all returns from the Fund’s investments will be used to further invest in the indie sector and for the benefit of our audiences."