Sister Group, led by Jane Featherstone and Elisabeth Murdoch, has expanded its portfolio by acquiring a majority stake in After Party Studios, a UK-based digital-first production company.
Established in 2016, After Party Studios was founded by YouTuber Callum McGinley (Callux), film director Ben Doyle (Rvbberduck), CEO Joshua Barnett (formerly with YMU and ITV), and Base79 founder Richard Mansell.
Known for its original content, branded entertainment, and social productions across various platforms, After Party has produced popular series such as the Sky Sports docuseries “Scenes” with over 150 million views, Channel 4.0 shows like “Don’t Get Catfished,” “Find The…” and “Hear Me Out,” the Sidemen Charity Match at Wembley Stadium, and digital content for Netflix’s “House of Guinness,” “Stranger Things,” and “Being Gordon Ramsay.” Additionally, they have created campaigns for brands like Red Bull and Just Eat.
Upcoming projects include “In Search of Peace” featuring Jordan Stephens for MTV UK; “Race To The Top,” a docuseries documenting KSI’s acquisition of the British soccer team Dagenham & Redbridge FC; and the “SNL U.K.” digital series “Five To Live” social rollout for Sky One.
“The After Party Studios team occupies a unique space as a digital-native creative company driven by creator instincts, with strong relationships with talent, brands, and platforms, and delivering high-quality execution,” stated Sister Group CEO Lucinda Hicks. “Our partnership allows them to continue excelling, developing innovative IP, strengthening audience connections, and shaping the future of digital storytelling.”
According to the companies, the acquisition by Sister aims to enhance After Party’s offerings, with collaboration potential across Sister Group’s other entities.
Sister Group’s entities include Sister Pictures, renowned for TV and film projects like “Chernobyl,” “This is Going to Hurt,” and “Black Doves” (currently in its second series production). Other entities include Dorothy St Pictures, Yes Yes Media, Locksmith Animation, South of the River, and Unanimous Media. In podcasting, Sister Group holds a majority stake in Campside Media, and in publishing, it has backed Zando and AWA. Additionally, it has invested in the London nightlife venue Koko. After Party marks Sister’s initial venture into digital media.
“Over the past decade, After Party Studios has been built with some of the best talent, both in front of and behind the camera, producing creatively ambitious work that aims to advance internet culture,” stated After Party co-founders Callum McGinley and Ben Doyle. “Joining the Sister family is a natural progression for us. Their history of supporting bold, unique storytelling makes them an ideal partner as we move into the next phase of our company.”
Murdoch, co-founder and executive chairman of Sister, and Jane Featherstone, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, added: “Sister Group is dedicated to excellence in storytelling across all forms, empowering exceptional creative entrepreneurs to perform at their best, and ensuring every company contributes to the collective. Callum, Ben, Josh, and their incredibly talented team are exactly that—relevant, engaging storytellers dedicated to excellence and connecting with audiences worldwide. We warmly welcome them into the Group, where there are numerous like-minded individuals and opportunities for impactful collaborations.”
The deal was facilitated by Sister Group COO Chris Fry and Joshua Barnett, CEO, along with Kevin Deeley, CFO for After Party Studios. After Party Studios received advisory services from Waypoint Partners, while Sister Group was represented by CMS and After Party Studios by Harbottle & Lewis.
