Northern Ireland’s broadcasting sector is set to get a major boost after Channel 4 announced a new partnership with NI Screen to create more opportunities for local talent and independent production companies.
The news comes just weeks after the Conservative government revealed plans to privatise the channel, which has been behind a number of successful Northern Ireland productions, including Derry Girls.
It said the new partnership will help Northern Ireland’s independent production companies secure Channel 4 commission and create more opportunities for local talent to advance their careers in the television sector.
To do that it will focus on forging stronger relationships throughout the broadcast sector, boost production capability and build on existing initiatives to develop talent and address the skills gap.
“More4 Northern Ireland is a fantastic opportunity only open to indies in Northern Ireland, Channel 4’s Head of Daytime and Features Jo Street said. “We’ll be inviting indies to pitch programmes ideas for a four-part series which could, potentially, become a high volume, returning series on More4.
“This development process alone will help forge stronger ties between Northern Ireland indies and Channel 4’s commissioners but hopefully it will also produce a brilliant new, returning series.”
Part of the push by Channel 4 will see the creation of More4 Northern Ireland, a scheme designed to lead to a new returnable commission for a Northern Ireland based indie.
More4 Northern Ireland will be launched at the Channel 4 Belfast Open Day on 22nd June. Commissioners will liaise directly with Northern Ireland based indies to outline what the channel is looking to commission for More4. Indies will also be offered support and guidance on how to submit the best possible ideas.
As well as detailing the More4 Northern Ireland scheme, the Belfast Open Day will feature a range of talks, workshops and panels and cover topics such as audience trends, creative diversity, production finance and practical legal and business affairs advice.
Northern Ireland Screen Chief Executive Richard Williams said the partnership is transformational.
“This marks another significant stage in the development of the Northern Ireland screen industry and underlines the importance of a joint approach to its future strategy,” he said. “This partnership agreement is clear evidence of Channel 4 and Northern Ireland Screen’s commitment to invest financially and creatively as we continue to develop an internationally competitive screen industry here.
“This initiative offers local producers wonderful opportunities, but the real winners will be viewers all across the UK.”
Channel 4 will also increase its training and development commitments in Northern Ireland. The broadcaster said it will arrange specific training for Northern Ireland indies on how to develop bold ideas of scale and also appoint an industry training provider that can deliver specific workshops and training, tailored to the needs of indies in the region and at no cost to the indies themselves. And, working with Northern Ireland Screen, Channel 4 will identify specific training needs in the nation and put in place training and skills provision to meet
