Outgoing 4Studio MD Matt Risley to join National Theatre to oversee streaming service NT at Home

Matt Risley, outgoing MD at Channel 4-owned 4Studio, is to become the first chief digital officer at the National Theatre in the UK.

Matt Risley

Risley, whose departure from C4 after six years was announced in May, will oversee streaming platform NT at Home as well as the theatre company’s digital commissioning and distribution strategies.

Responsible for the global growth of digital audiences and revenue streams, the role also spans in-cinema offering NT Live and the evolution of the National Theatre Collection, its digital platform for schools.

A performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, adjacent to the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre launched NT at Home in December 2020, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies.

In related news, the National Theatre has also added three new trustees from the world of tech and media to its board. They are Debbie Weinstein, president of Google EMEA; filmmaker Baroness Beeban Kidron; and former Disney exec Luke Bradley-Jones, now president and MD of The Economist.

The National Theatre is led by executive director and joint CEO Kate Varah and director and joint CEO Indhu Rubasingham.

Risley arrived at C4 in 2019 from MTV, where he had served as digital director, in the newly created role of head of its fledgling digital content unit in Leeds.

Set up to commission and produce digital content for social and digital platforms, it became known as 4Studio in 2020 and since then has played a key role as the broadcaster seeks to become a digital-first public service streamer by 2030.

During Risley’s time at 4Studio, C4 has led British broadcasters’ embrace of social, with YouTube audiences for full episodes of shows such as First Dates and Grand Designs skyrocketing.

C4 amassed more than 2.3 billion views across its social output in 2024, up 5.5% year-on-year, with digital-first youth brand Channel 4.0 launching original digital content across YouTube and social platforms.

Risley said: “I’ve long been a fan of the National Theatre for its world-class programming, social purpose and industry-leading commitment to innovation – and the creation of this new role, along with the new appointments of Debbie and Luke to its board, ensure that digital growth is going to be at the heart of its future.

“The strategic and creative vision and leadership of Kate Varah and Indhu Rubasingham means I’m hugely excited to help play a part in how it evolves further, and I can’t wait to join the exec team and get started.”