CHANNEL 4 and Northern Ireland Screen have partnered to give independent production companies here more commissioning opportunities.
The joint effort will make way to 'More4 Northern Ireland', a scheme which the partnership says is designed to lead to “a new returnable commission for a Northern Ireland based indie”.
It will run initially as a two-year set-up and will see both organisations work to grow the production sector here, create more opportunities for local talent to advance their careers in the television sectors; increase sustainability for NI indies and have NI indies view Channel 4 as their key broadcast partner.
An open day will take place on June 22 when specific initiatives to support production companies and build and develop talent as well as addressing skills gaps will feature.
The partnership will focus on forging stronger relationships with the broadcast sector in Northern Ireland, it said.
During the event TV commissioners will liaise directly with Northern Ireland based indies to outline what the channel is looking to commission for More4. Those companies will also be offered support and guidance on how to submit the best possible ideas.
A range of talks, workshops and panels covering topics such as audience trends, creative diversity, production finance and practical legal and business affairs advice will also take place on the opening day.
Channel 4’s managing director nations and regions Sinead Rocks said: “Northern Ireland has a rich history in film making and a wealth of creative talent and, working with Northern Ireland Screen, I want Channel 4 to be the catalyst that harnesses the next generation of talent and supercharges the nation’s broadcast industry.”
Northern Ireland Screen chief executive, Richard Williams said: “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.
"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’s head of daytime and features, Jo Street, said the partnership could see more independent production companies here pitch programmes that could “potentially become a high volume, returning series” on its More4 channel.
“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,” she said.
Channel 4 said it will also ramp up its training and development commitments here, with specific training on how to “develop bold ideas of scale”.
It will also appoint an industry training provider to deliver workshops and training that meet identified needs, at no cost to the participants
This training will be in addition to training schemes already undertaken by Channel 4 through 4Skills, some of which focus on developing skills in Northern Ireland, such as regularly placing production trainees at Northern Ireland based indies and jointly funding the Factual Fast Track Northern Ireland scheme along with Northern Ireland Screen and the BBC.
