Channel 4 Sells Stake in Renowned Films to Critical Content

Critical Content has made a strategic investment in the U.K. production company Renowned Films, buying the stake owned by Channel 4’s Growth Fund, plus additional shares in the producer.

The deal gives Critical Content a key foothold in the U.K. market and expands its robust creative platform and production infrastructure outside the U.S. Critical Content’s CEO, Tom Forman, and executive VP and CFO, Christoph Pachler, will join the board of Renowned.

Renowned has produced a slate of unscripted, factual entertainment, features and documentaries. Its roster includes The Women Who Kill Lions for Channel 4 and BBC film NYPD: Biggest Gang in New York? (Copwatchers).

Forman commented: “Renowned is an ambitious, forward-thinking company and we are excited that our investment will enable the company to expand its portfolio and widen its reach. Factual is a vibrant space and British companies are among the world leaders. We are thrilled to be investing in Renowned and we look forward to introducing these next generation content creators to our American buyers. Renowned has its fingers on the cultural pulse and seamlessly moves between TV, digital, and branded, and from high budget to low.”

Max Welch, founder and creative director at Renowned, added: “This strategic partnership with Critical Content, in addition to the investment capital, will allow Renowned to turbo-charge our growth. We have set the stage for expansion in the U.K., and are excited to grow our presence in the U.S. in collaboration with Tom and the incredibly talented Critical Content team. We are grateful to the Channel 4 Growth Fund who has been vital in bringing us to this point, and are thrilled as we are embarking on this next chapter of Renowned.”

Jonathan Allan, Channel 4’s commercial director, said: “Channel 4’s investment in Renowned is a blueprint for what the Growth Fund is here to do. In two-and-a-half years we’ve helped Duane, Max and Tim grow their business from new and disruptive market entrants to achieving major success and now launching on the international stage—and the return on our investment will help support our ongoing commitment to the U.K.-wide creative sector.”