History Hit and After Party Studios dazzle at Broadcast Digital Awards

History Hit landed the double whammy of Channel of the Year and Best Factual Channel, while After Party Studios bagged the coveted Multichannel Production Company of the Year gong at this year’s Broadcast Digital Awards.

History Hit edged out BBC3, BBC4, CBBC, Channel 4.0 and U&Drama to be crowned Channel of the Year, with judges lauding it as a “modern, niche broadcaster” offering subscription originals, ad-funded YouTube content, a suite of podcasts and a raft of social output.

They praised its combination of creative and original content, savvy commercial thinking and audience clarity as a “template for how the next generation of digital business can really cut through”.

Meanwhile, After Party secured its first Broadcast Digital Award with judges commending its “blend of creative innovation with commercial know-how”. Its content ranges from Sidemen Charity Match on YouTube, to Paramount’s In Search of Peace, Netflix’s Stranger Things: A Strangely British Christmas Party, and Channel 4.0 format Don’t Get Catfished. It was also recently acquired by Sister Group.

The BBC and Channel 4 picked up six and five gongs apiece, respectively, while Disney+ secured two.

Among the BBC’s wins on the night were Hera Pictures’ What It Feels Like For A Girl picking up the award for Best Drama Programme and the second series of Roughcut TV’s Such Brave Girls landing the Best Comedy Programme trophy.

Channel 4.0 was named Entertainment Channel of the Year, while its format Love Is In the Blood picked up Best Content Partnership or AFP. Stalwart E4 series Celebs Go Dating picked up Best Entertainment Programme.

Elsewhere, Disney+’ Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth, which was made by Curious Films, was named Best Documentary Series. Underdogs, made by Wildstar Films for Disney+ and Nat Go, picked up the Best Specialist Factual Programme award.

Other major moments included The Celebrity Traitors halting Hollyoaks’ four-year run by winning Best Digital Support For a Programme, while Darcus Beese: In His Own Words was named Best Documentary Programme.