On 19 July 2016, Community Channel (www.communitychannel.org) Community Channel reaches its goal on Crowdfunder to secure its immediate future as the nation’s first community-owned television channel for social impact. at London.

Community Channel has announced today that it has successfully raised over £390,000 through the crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder – securing an additional £90,000 of revenue for the channel’s future plans versus the original target.

Community Channel announced on June 1st that it would become the UK’s first community-owned TV, online and mobile brand dedicated to social impact by offering members of the public, including film makers, charities, media partners and, crucially, its 10m viewers, the opportunity to own a stake in the channel by investing in community shares through the crowdfunding platform, Crowdfunder. This has become a reality.

Less than two months after launching the campaign Community Channel has smashed through the £300,000 target required to stay on the airwaves. Around 300 organisations and individuals backed the campaign, with significant support coming from backers such as broadcaster Sky, the Big Lottery Fund and Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Each shareholder will now have an equal vote on management issues, such as electing representatives to the Board of Directors. The share capital will help cover costs while the channel develops new digital platforms, grows audiences and increases its revenue streams.

Community Channel, which is available in over 25 million homes on Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat, offers budding film makers and charities a platform to share their work and content. Launched in September 2000, the channel shows over 75% of original and UK-premiere programming and brings together a diverse mix of talent to create an impact for little-known and well-established organisations and their causes on the airwaves. It is the only channel that turns viewing into doing, as a quarter of all viewers do more in their communities directly relating to programming they have watched on the channel.

Caroline Diehl, CEO and Founder of Media Trust, the charity that oversees Community Channel, said: “I’d like to personally thank all those who backed the Channel in its hour of need. These supporters – from large organisations who pledged thousands of pounds, to individuals who gave what they could - are united in the belief that the Community Channel is too important an asset to disappear. Hitting our original £300,000 target and then an extra £90,000 demonstrates the confidence people have in the Community Channel as a force for good for society. We hope this massive vote of confidence will encourage further financial backing as we look to secure the long term future of the Channel.”

Sabita Kumari-Dass, Founding Director of Protégé DNA, and backer of the campaign, said: “I am delighted that Community Channel has reached its crowdfunding target. It ensures that charitable organisations, like Protégé, have a platform to demonstrate their hard work to an engaged audience. I’m looking forward to seeing our curated programme, which was part of our share offer, being broadcast.”

Lord (Michael) Grade, former BBC Chairman and Chief Executive of Channel Four, said: “Britain would be a poorer place without Community Channel so I am delighted that its immediate future has been secured. It is unique in the world as a means of galvanizing support for so many communities and causes. I urge people to continue to get behind the community shares scheme and continue to back the Channel as it looks to secure its long term future.”

Phil Geraghty, Crowdfunder MD said: "In a world of change where the media is evolving at such a phenomenal rate the Community Channel and their incredible raft of supporters have shown true innovation in becoming community owned on Crowdfunder. Having raised over £390,000, the team have crafted a new future for charities and community groups looking to share their positive stories across the UK. Congratulations to everyone involved, for successfully becoming owned by the crowd."

Lenny Henry, comedian, writer and supporter of the Channel tweeted his support, saying: “Please get behind this people! They’re doing good work and need your support”

About Community Channel
Community Channel is the only TV channel for communities, charities and the people who make the UK a better place for us all. Viewers learn more by watching the channel and are motivated to do more for others. The channel is warm, embracing, sometimes funny, often surprising and offers a window into recognizable lives across the UK:
• The channel broadcasts on Freeview 63, Sky 539, Virgin 269 and Freesat 63
• Available streamed and on-demand through six platforms
• 10 million unique TV viewers last year with 1 million+ viewers each month
• Audiences are broadly in line with TV averages:
o Adults 35-54, 54-65, even gender split
o Representative viewing across the UK nations
o Viewers are mainstream Britain, in terraces, towns and suburbs

If you’d like to find out more about our Community Shares campaign, please visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/community-channel