After Party Studios eyes scripted YouTube formats following Sister acquisition

This move signals a strategic shift in professional content production where creator-led agile workflows are being industrialized for major ad-supported platforms. By integrating After Party Studios into Sister Group’s portfolio, which includes high-end drama house Sister Pictures, the venture bridges the cost gap between expensive prestige TV and disposable digital clips. It suggests a rising market for 'premium mid-form' scripted content that mirrors YouTube's consumption speed while maintaining production values that attract blue-chip advertisers. Watch for whether this model successfully scales to other global Sister-owned hubs in the US after the closure of their LA outpost in late 2024.

The acquisition, first reported in April 2026, places After Party Studios within a broader portfolio that includes Dorothy St Pictures and Richard Bacon’s Yes Yes Media. Per Advanced Television (April 2026), After Party was established in 2016 by YouTuber Callum McGinley (Callux) and director Ben Doyle. It has already achieved significant reach with projects like the Sky Sports docuseries 'Scenes,' which surpassed 150 million views, and content supporting Netflix titles such as 'Stranger Things.'

This push into scripted YouTube content arrives as traditional TV production volume declines. According to data cited by The Publish Press (May 2026), there were 25% fewer first-run series in 2024 compared to 2022 following industry-wide labor disputes, creating a supply void that creator-led studios are now filling. Other production houses are seeing similar success with scripted YouTube comedies like 'Shanked,' which reportedly costs just 10% of a traditional streaming series to produce by avoiding the overhead of Hollywood guild structures, according to London Alley (April 2026).

Sister Group’s majority investment is intended to 'supercharge' original IP and digital-first slates, as confirmed by CEO Lucinda Hicks during the deal's announcement. While Sister Group shuttered its Los Angeles office in late 2024 per C21Media reporting, it continues to focus on UK-based independent production talent that can navigate the 'blurring line' between social video and linear television. The goal for these fast-turnaround projects is to create 360-degree brands that monetize through a mix of ad revenue, brand partnerships, and direct-to-consumer merchandising.