Channel 4 Acquires Stake in Barcroft

LONDON: Channel 4 has picked up a minority stake in Barcroft Holdings, which includes such business lines as content creation and digital distribution.

Barcroft Holdings’ ventures include Barcroft Media, an editorial content agency which licenses and distributes text, photography, TV documentaries and short-form video clips to producers, publishers, broadcasters and digital platforms; Barcroft TV, which is one of YouTube’s most watched factual channels; and the branded-content arm Barcroft Plus. There’s also Barcroft Productions, which creates original linear and digital TV programming. Its projects include The Outsiders (MTV), multiple seasons of Body Bizarre (TLC), Inside The KKK (Channel 4) and Bear Grylls: Man vs. Everest (Discovery).

David Abraham, the 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 multiplatform 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.”

Sam Barcoft, the CEO of Barcroft Holdings, commented: “The Barcroft businesses have grown quickly, particularly over the past two years. 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.”