| Type | Limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast TV, Digital Media |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder(s) | Charles Wace |
| Headquarters | Plymouth, UK |
| Revenue | £33 Million |
Twofour is a UK independent media group that was founded in 1988 by Charles Wace, a former TV news producer and brother of financier Ian Wace. It has grown to become one of the largest independent media groups in the UK, employing over 350 people internationally.[1][2] Twofour is known for its diversity, specialising in a wide range of content related products and services including Broadcast TV production, digital design and development and content delivery. The largest individual company within the group is Twofour Broadcast which won the Best Indie Production Company of the Year at the Broadcast Awards in 2010,[3] followed in size by Twofour Digital which was ranked in the top 5 of corporate communication providers in the UK.[4]
With headquarters in Plymouth, Twofour also now has offices in London, Brussels, Abu Dhabi and Philadelphia.
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Twofour Broadcast supplies programming to the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Living, British Sky Broadcasting, Discovery Channel and a variety of other UK and international channels. The company is one of the UK's leading suppliers of factual entertainment, providing long running series such as The Hotel Inspector for Five. Recent high profile programmes include Harry's Artic Heroes, a BBC One documentary involving Prince Harry, capturing a special expedition undertaken by a team of wounded servicemen as they attempt a gruelling 200 mile charity trek to the North Pole and Channel 4’s Paralympics documentary series Best of British, following the British Paralympic Squad in the run up to 2012.
Other recent documentary programmes include My Hoarder Mum and Me (BBC), TA and the Taliban (ITV), Road Warriors (ITV), On Thin Ice (BBC 2), The Estate We Are In (BBC 1) and Through Hell and High Water both of which won Royal Television Society awards for best daytime programme.[5]
As well as factual entertainment, the company has expanded into quizzes and light entertainment. Twofour created Channel 4's first product placement programme with high street fashion retailer New Look. In 2009/2010 it was the largest UK independent supplier of content to Sky One, predominately due to its production of Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?, Sky's peak time quiz show.[6]
Twofour Broadcast held the title Best Indie Production Company in 2010,[7] and secured 8th place in Broadcast magazine's Top Independent Companies 2011.
| Title | Broadcaster | Transmission Date | Episodes | Running Time per Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamara: Billion$$ Girl | Channel 5 | 2011 | 3 | 60 Minutes |
| Harry's Artic Heroes | BBC1 | 2011 | 2 | 60 Minutes |
| My Hoarder Mum and Me | BBC1 | 2011 | 1 | 60 Minutes |
| TA and the Taliban | ITV | 2011 | 6 | 60 Minutes |
| My Funniest Year | Channel 4 | 2011 | 4 | 120 Minutes |
| Best of British | Channel 4 | 2011 | 10 | 60 Minutes |
| Educating Essex | Channel 4 | 2011 | 8 | 60 Minutes |
| Hotel Inspector (Season 7) | Channel 5 | 2011 | 16 | 60 Minutes |
| Choccywoccydoodah | UKTV | 2011 | 10 | 30 Minutes |
| Graffiti Wars | Channel 4 | 2011 | 1 | 60 Minutes |
| New Look Style the Nation | Channel 4 | 2011 | 6 | 60 Minutes |
| Fisherman's Friends | Channel 4 | 2011 | 1 | 60 Minutes |
| 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers | E4 | 2011 | 1 | 120 Minutes |
As well as providing Broadcast production, Twofour is a leading digital media agency specialising in media strategy, multiplatform campaigns, channel management and media production for brands and corporate organisations.[9] Clients include DuPont, Volkswagen, Audi, HBO and the BBC.
Twofour also specialises in video based technology solutions, especially for the public sector, brands and broadcasters. Key clients include Number 10, the Houses of Parliament and the European Parliament. A supplier of webtv content and bespoke video rich communication portals it has developed its own Online Video Platform (called MEDIAFREEDOM). In 2011 it was announced that Twofour was a key member of the technical steering group for the youview project.
Twofour provides a full range of event management solutions including webcasting and experiencial events which it does through its own brand and as Rocket Science. Acquired in October 2010, Rocket Science is a specialist corporate communications company focused on delivering business TV and live event management for global brands, including one of the world's biggest banks, joined the Twofour group. Consisting of former broadcast TV executives, producers and directors who produced high profile, highly rated TV shows for the BBC and ITV such as Top Gear and Wish You Were Here...?, Rocket Science specialises in producing broadcast quality, engaging and memorable content for corporate audiences delivered online or through creative events.
Twofour launched an Abu Dhabi based operation in March 2010, Twofour Arabia, aiming at providing Middle East clients the full portfolio of Twofour services - broadcast TV, web design and development, bespoke video platforms and experiencial installations. Clients include Mubadala and Masdar City. It is based at Twofour54, the Abu Dhabi created media zone.[10]