Jane Featherstone and Elisabeth Murdoch’s SISTER Group has made a majority investment in After Party Studios.
After Party Studios was set up in 2016 by YouTuber Callum McGinley (Callux), film director Ben Doyle (RVBBERDUCK), CEO Joshua Barnett (ex YMU, ITV), and Base79 founder Richard Mansell.
After Party spans original content, branded entertainment and social production. Series and formats include Sky Sports docuseries SCENES (150 million+ views), Channel 4.0 hits Don’t Get Catfished, Find The… and Hear Me Out, the sell-out annual Sidemen Charity Match at Wembley Stadium; and digital content supporting Netflix’s House of Guinness, Stranger Things and Being Gordon Ramsay. It also makes wider campaigns for brands including Red Bull, Just Eat and work for O2 x Red Roses with Chabuddy G and revamped League of 72 platform powered by Sky Bet.
Upcoming projects include In Search of Peace with Jordan Stephens for MTV UK; Race To The Top, the docuseries following KSI’s takeover of Dagenham & Redbridge FC; and the ongoing social rollout of SNL UK’s digital series Five To Live for Sky One.
SISTER Group companies include TV and Film makers SISTER Pictures, Dorothy St Pictures, Yes Yes Media, Locksmith Animation, South of the River and Unanimous Media, podcasting outfit Campside Media, publishers Zando and AWA and music venue KOKO.
Lucinda Hicks, CEO, SISTER Group said, “The After Party Studios team occupy a unique space – a digital-native creative company driven by creator instincts and built on deep relationships with talent, brands and platforms and first-class execution. Our partnership enables them to continue to do what they do so brilliantly, originating ground breaking IP, deepening direct relationships with audiences and shaping the next era of digital storytelling.”
Callum McGinley and Ben Doyle, co-founders of After Party Studios said, “Over the last decade, we’ve built After Party Studios alongside some of the best talent in front of and behind the camera, making work that is creatively ambitious and always striving to push internet culture forward. We’ve always cared deeply about storytelling, craft and originality in a space that has historically rewarded the opposite, because we believe the future of entertainment is online. Joining the SISTER family feels like a natural next step for us. Their track record of backing bold, distinctive storytelling makes them an ideal partner as we take the company into its next chapter. We’re hugely excited for what comes next and for the opportunity to build on everything we’ve created so far.”
Joshua Barnett, co-founder and CEO of After Party Studios said, “This partnership with SISTER combines our complementary strengths and shared creative ambition, opening up genuinely limitless possibilities. Together, we can continue pushing boundaries and pioneering where the industry goes next. I can’t wait to get this absolute game-changing next chapter underway.”
“SISTER Group has always stood for excellence in storytelling in all its forms, enabling exceptional creative entrepreneurs to do their best work and where every company is additive to the whole.” said Elisabeth Murdoch, co-founder and executive chairman, and Jane Featherstone, co-founder and chief creative officer. “Callum, Ben, Josh and their ridiculously talented team are exactly that…relevant, engaging storytellers committed to excellence and to connecting with audiences wherever they are. We welcome them wholeheartedly into the Group where there are many like minds and many opportunities for new, impactful collaborations.”
The deal was brokered by Chris Fry, COO SISTER Group and Joshua Barnett, CEO and Kevin Deeley, CFO for After Party Studios. After Party Studios were advised by Waypoint Partners. SISTER Group were represented by CMS and After Party Studios by Harbottle & Lewis.
Jon Creamer
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