BBC supports indies across the UK in response to production consolidation
The BBC in the UK has revealed the independent producers that will benefit from the £1.3m (US$1.7m) it is investing in new and small companies over the next year.
David Pembrey
In total, 50 indies will receive support across three dedicated schemes: the TV Small Indie Fund, the Hot House co-commissioning scheme and the BBC Radio & Music Indie Development Fund.
All recipients of these funds receive strategic investment, mentors from the commissioning teams across TV and radio, and a programme of introductions to wider BBC teams, to help them grow and develop their ideas.
Launched in 2020, the TV Small Indie Fund supports the growth of small independent production companies from across the UK with turnovers below £10m across drama, comedy, film, entertainment, factual, daytime and children’s.
Exceeding the original budget of £1m, this year 33 companies will be supported through the fund and receive a total of £1.3m.
The companies selected for the 2025 TV Small Indie Fund in Northern Ireland are Deadpan, Nice One and Blackthorn. In Wales, they are Riot Time, Red Seam, Cardiff Productions and Kailash Films. In Scotland, they are Barry Crerar, Studio Something, Flabbergast and Rogan.
In England, they are Candle & Bell, Northern Child, Schnoobert Productions, Button Down, ClockWork Films, Public Dreams, CosmoSquare, Abbotvision Productions, The Fold, Common Story, Acclaimed Content, Rural Studios, Chalk Productions and Slate Works.
In London, they are 104 Films, B-Side Production, Juno, Lunar Pictures, Nico, Them Ones, Three Tables Productions and Turnover Films.
Companies selected for the Hot House unscripted co-commissioning scheme in Northern Ireland are Alleycats TV, Below the Radar, Rare TV, B&C Films, Blair Black, Walk on Air Films, Afro-Mic and Stellify Media.
The TV Small Indie Fund continues to focus support for companies based in the nations and regions of the UK, with 76% of companies based outside of London.
The 2025 cohort also sees the highest ever number of diverse-led producers – with 79% of companies having at least two individuals in specific leadership roles from one of the following under-represented groups: black, Asian or minority ethnic, disabled and/or working class.
First piloted in 2022, the Hot House co-commissioning scheme is a joint initiative between BBC Unscripted and BBC Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen, aimed at growing network production capacity in the region.
The initiative provides Northern Ireland indies with advice and support from the network and Northern Ireland commissioning teams, and slate development funding to help them compete for BBC network factual commissions and BBC NI/ BBC network co-commissions.
Eight Northern Irish independent companies have now been chosen to receive £25,000 from the BBC, with the opportunity to apply for match funding from Northern Ireland Screen. The companies will focus their development work in three network genres – documentaries, factual entertainment and daytime and early peak.
In addition, in the context of challenges across the industry, the BBC will be providing a series of monthly online insight sessions aimed at all smaller producers. These will include business and editorial sessions accessible to everyone to engage with the BBC’s strategy and resources.
David Pembrey, chief operating officer at BBC Content said: “In a global market which continues to see production consolidation, we remain committed to investing in new and smaller independent businesses and the UK’s creative industries.
“We want to ensure our audiences get to enjoy the very best homegrown storytelling, for which investment in the roots of production across the UK is vital.”
Eddie Doyle, head of content commissioning at BBC Northern Ireland, said: “The second phase of the Hot House scheme is now well under way with our network commissioning colleagues and Northern Ireland Screen and it’s been fantastic to see the passion and ambition that Northern Ireland independents have brought to the table.
“That eight separate local companies are now moving forward and benefitting from the scheme is a great thing for them and the creative industries here in Northern Ireland.”
Matimba Kabalika, executive producer, B-Side Production, said: “The support of the Small Indie Fund has been invaluable to B-Side and we are excited to have received our first greenlight from the drama commissioning team, a coproduction with Mam-Tor, for Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. Having Produced Caleb’s debut short film Pray, with the support of BBC Film it is a full-circle moment and proof of the value of that the fund gives.”
Anton Inwood, founder and creative director, Acclaimed Content, said: “We are very excited to be joining BBC’s Small Indie Fund cohort. This initiative has propelled so many upcoming indies on to great things after the fantastic support from the BBC. Acclaimed Content is next up.”
