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A new strategic accelerator for established independent production companies repositioning for a changed market

Applications open 10AM Tuesday 20th January for the new Indielab Content Futures 2026 Accelerator.

The independent TV and content sector is operating in a market that has fundamentally shifted. Commissioning dynamics have changed, audience behaviour has fragmented, and routes to value now extend far beyond traditional broadcast.

Content Futures 2026 has been designed in response to how significantly the market has shifted, and is aimed at established companies reassessing content, commissioning and finance strategy, digital revenue streams, audience trends, AI & tech adoption and routes to market.

Applications are open to established Indies across scripted and non-scripted genres, including previous Alumni.

What is Content Futures 2026?

Indielab Content Futures 2026 is a cohort-based strategic accelerator for independent production companies operating in a structurally changed market.

It is designed for founder-led and leadership teams with an existing track record repositioning their business in response to new commissioning realities, evolving audience demand and diversified revenue opportunities.

The programme focuses on decision-making across content, audiences, commercial models and capability – helping companies sharpen focus, avoid false opportunities and build more resilient futures.

Who is the accelerator programme for?

Established independent production companies
Indies reassessing content strategy, revenue streams and partnerships
Teams making next-phase strategic decisions about focus, priorities and growth

This programme is not introductory. It assumes experience and focuses on next-phase decisions.

Indielab alumni are warmly welcomed. This is a newly designed programme reflecting how significantly the market has shifted, offering alumni the opportunity to recalibrate content, revenue and growth strategy in light of new commercial and structural realities.

Key Areas of the Programme

Strategic direction & growth planning

This work focuses on the real strategic decisions facing independent production companies now. Participants assess how shifts in commissioning, audience behaviour and production economics affect their business, and where growth exists. Using structured frameworks, companies clarify their core proposition, prioritise content and revenue opportunities, and identify which activities to stop, sustain or invest in. The emphasis is on focus and commercial realism, not growth for growth’s sake.

Partnerships & routes to market

Participants examine how partnerships now shape routes to market across broadcast, digital platforms, brands and distributors. The programme looks in detail co-production, branded entertainment models, platform partnerships and alternative commissioning structures. Companies work through how to position themselves for partnership, how to assess risk and value, and how to build relationships that support both creative ambition and diversified revenue in a more fragmented market.

Industry insight, data & applied technology

This strand combines industry insight with practical analysis of data and technology. Participants work with audience intelligence to understand where demand sits across platforms and formats, and how that should inform development decisions. Alongside this, sessions explore how AI and technology can support research, development and operations – focusing on real use cases, limitations and trade-offs rather than hype or tool-chasing.

Indie Showcase & briefings

The Indie Showcase and briefings are designed to support relationship-building and fast, meaningful market engagement. They give companies opportunities to connect with broadcasters, streamers, distributors, brand agencies, platforms and other funding partners, while also building insight and market intelligence about where demand, budgets and opportunities are really sitting. The format is deliberately structured to help participants develop future relationships quickly, through informed conversations that support longer-term commercial collaboration rather than one-off transactions.

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Applications Open - 10am Tuesday 20th January

Funders & Sponsors

With grateful thanks to our 2026 funding partners and sponsors

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