SISTER Group, the indie founded by Elisabeth Murdoch and Jane Featherstone, has picked up a majority stake in After Party Studios, the digital-first production company known for hits like Sky Sports’ SCENES and Channel 4.0’s Don’t Get Catfished.
After Party Studios was founded a decade ago by YouTuber Callum McGinley (Callux), film director Ben Doyle (RVBBERDUCK), Joshua Barnett, and Richard Mansell, operating across original content, branded entertainment, and productions for social-video platforms. Its upcoming slate includes In Search of Peace with Jordan Stephens for MTV UK; Race To The Top; and the ongoing social rollout of SNL UK’s digital series, Five To Live, for Sky One.
Joining the SISTER Group, it will sit alongside SISTER Pictures, Dorothy St Pictures, Yes Yes Media, Locksmith Animation, South of the River, and Unanimous Media in the TV and film space, as well as Campside Media on the podcasting side, Zando and AWA in publishing, and KOKO in music and live experiences.
Lucinda Hicks, CEO of SISTER Group, commented: “The After Party Studios team occupies a unique space—a digital-native creative company driven by creator instincts and built on deep relationships with talent, brands, and platforms, and first-class execution. Our partnership enables them to continue to do what they do so brilliantly, originating groundbreaking IP, deepening direct relationships with audiences, and shaping the next era of digital storytelling.”
McGinley andDoyle, co-founders, added, “Over the last decade, we’ve built After Party Studios alongside some of the best talent in front of and behind the camera, making work that is creatively ambitious and always striving to push internet culture forward. We’ve always cared deeply about storytelling, craft, and originality in a space that has historically rewarded the opposite, because we believe the future of entertainment is online. Joining the SISTER family feels like a natural next step for us. Their track record of backing bold, distinctive storytelling makes them an ideal partner as we take the company into its next chapter. We’re hugely excited for what comes next and for the opportunity to build on everything we’ve created so far.”
Barnett, co-founder and CEO, said, “This partnership with SISTER combines our complementary strengths and shared creative ambition, opening up genuinely limitless possibilities. Together, we can continue pushing boundaries and pioneering where the industry goes next. I can’t wait to get this absolute game-changing next chapter underway.”
“SISTER Group has always stood for excellence in storytelling in all its forms, enabling exceptional creative entrepreneurs to do their best work, and where every company is additive to the whole,” said Murdoch, co-founder and executive chairman, and Featherstone, co-founder and chief creative officer. “Callum, Ben, Josh, and their ridiculously talented team are exactly that…relevant, engaging storytellers committed to excellence and to connecting with audiences wherever they are. We welcome them wholeheartedly into the Group where there are many like minds and many opportunities for new, impactful collaborations.”
