The BBC is to split its long-established Small Indie Fund into separate TV and digital pots for the first time.
Indies will now be supported to develop ideas for platforms including TikTok and YouTube, and the BBC’s own digital services, across a range of genres, alongside pitching and producing scripted and unscripted TV programming.
The total fund available for 2025/26 is £1m, down slightly from last year’s £1.3m. This figure does not include an extra £250,000 to support radio ideas as part of the ongoing Radio and Music Indie Development Fund.
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All recipients of the funding will receive additional strategic investment, and mentors from within the commissioning sector and the wider BBC to help them develop their ideas and businesses.
The winners of the digital pot may also receive funding for a short non-broadcast pilot for a BBC digital channel, and the chance to buddy up with an existing production to extend its presence into digital.
The Small Indie Fund is available to support UK indies with turnovers below £10m, with those applying for the digital pot required to have previously produced digital media content such as visualised podcasts, short-form video, livestreams or creator-driven content, and applications will close on 22 December.
Chief operating officer of BBC Content, David Pembrey, said: “We are committed to supporting smaller independent companies and studios, who are a vital part of our creative industries. These funds form part of our wider content and skills investment in the grassroots of production across the UK, ensuring we tell a range of distinctive homegrown stories for audiences”.
Last year, the BBC supported 57 indies via the Small Indie Fund, with BBC Film involved in the scheme for the first time. Successful applicants included Me+You Productions (I Am Ruth) and Candour Productions (Libby Are You Home Yet?).
