RAF Awards 2005

Regional Attraction Fund Attracts Top Names to Northwest

Monday 16th May 2005

North West Vision has made two more significant awards from its Regional Attraction Fund (RAF).

Delivered by North West Vision in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the Regional Attraction Fund (RAF) is a major initiative to attract high-growth, independent television producers to England's Northwest, and to support indigenous production companies in the region.

Baby Cow Productions and Channel X/Karushi Management will both benefit from the RAF and will be setting up permanent bases in the Manchester.

They follow Hat Trick North, which set up in the region at the beginning of the year, again with help from North West Vision.

Baby Cow, which was established in 1999 by Mancunians Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, is responsible for hugely successful comedies such as Nighty Night, I Deal, Alistair McGowan's Big Impression and the cult film 24-hour Party People.

Headed up by former Head of Entertainment at Granada, Heather Coogan, (Executive Producer) and Rick Michaels (Head of Development), Baby Cow Manchester will initially be staffed by a core team of three and will focus on comedy and entertainment commissions in the region.

Channel X is one of the UK's longest established comedy and entertainment specialists and is responsible for hit TV shows such as BBC's Shooting Stars and the controversial animation series Popetown.

Channel X and Karushi Management will be setting up a new joint-venture in the Northwest, to be known as Channel K. Aside from developing quality comedy, factual and entertainment programmes the company will also act as a talent agency and will be signing up emerging comedy talent in the region.

The Manchester-based venture will be headed up by Directors Alan Marke, Jim Reid and Lisa Thomas. Initially the office will employ a team of four locally based staff.

The Regional Attraction Fund will assist both companies with their initial start-up and running costs, enabling the best possible start to their operations in the Northwest.

Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision, comments:

"The Northwest has produced some great comedy talent over the last ten years and we know there is plenty more out there just waiting to be discovered. We welcome both Baby Cow and Channel K to strengthen the region's comedy base. One of North West Vision's key aims is to develop indigenous talent in the region so we are particularly pleased that locally based producers are heading up both companies."

Henry Normal of Baby Cow Productions comments:

"We are absolutely delighted to announce that with the help of the RAF we will be setting up in the Northwest, especially as both Steve and I started out in Manchester. Together with Heather and Rick, we aim to work closely with Northwest talent, new and established, both in front of and behind the camera."

Alan Marke, Head of Production at Channel X comments:

"We believe that there is a lot of new and untapped talent in the Northwest and we aim to uncover and nurture it. We have been considering setting up an office in the Northwest for quite a while. Thanks to North West Vision and the RAF, this has been made possible."

Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing comments:

"The driving force behind setting up the RAF is to help independent production companies like Baby Cow and Channel X take advantage of the region's excellent film and television ability. Not only does the fund create jobs for media professionals in the region but also reinforces the region's reputation as one of the most attractive locations for aspiring new talent."

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