BBC And North East Screen Pick 12 Firms For Digital Accelerator

The BBC and North East Screen have named 12 North East production companies to progress in the Digital Accelerator, an initiative aimed at developing bold, digital‑first ideas for 16–24-year-old audiences on platforms including YouTube, TikTok and Twitch.

Supported by £600,000 in funding from the BBC and the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), the programme drew a strong response from across the region. The shortlist underscores the momentum in the North East’s screen sector, which has generated more than £65 million in GVA and 1,000 jobs over the past three years.

The selected companies now enter a development phase and will pitch directly to BBC commissioners. From this cohort, up to four will be chosen to take their digital concepts into production.

The shortlisted companies are: Adventure Alliance Films (County Durham), Candle & Bell (Gateshead), Film Nova (Gateshead), MOTIF (Gateshead), MediaBorne (Gateshead), North Wrestling (Newcastle), Northern Child (Newcastle), Nrthrn Baby (Newcastle), Second Draft (Sunderland), Sea & Sky Pictures (Hartlepool), Twenty Six 03 (Gateshead) and Wander Films (Middlesbrough).

Fiona Campbell, BBC Controller of Youth Audiences and Interim Director of Unscripted, said: "The Digital Accelerator is about backing brilliant ideas and ambitious companies to reach young audiences in fresh, authentic ways. The North East is full of creative energy, and this shortlist shows the strength and diversity of talent coming through the region. We're excited to work closely with these companies as they develop bold, digital-first ideas and take the next step in their growth."

Lisa Laws, Development Director at North East Screen, said: "We've got a great mix of companies on the Digital Accelerator shortlist: well established linear production companies, and those already building IP in the digital sphere. This announcement is a powerful acknowledgement of the talent and creativity driving these companies to grow in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. With linear commissions in the North East having already quadrupled since 2022, thanks to the close collaboration we have with broadcasters such as the BBC, we’re now unlocking opportunities for new potential suppliers. We're backing ambitious home grown businesses to think boldly, take calculated risks and build sustainable digital futures, ensuring the region can deliver the next big digital hit."

The Digital Accelerator was unveiled at the 2025 Edinburgh TV Festival and further outlined at an industry event at Stockton Arc in November. The BBC Group and YouTube have also recently announced a strategic partnership intended to deliver more for audiences and support creators across the UK.