A charitable TV channel funded by more than 200 individual shareholders has been launched which aims to inspire people and communities to do good.
Together, the world’s first crowdfunded TV channel, launched this week. Donors include Big Lottery Fund, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Sky, public broadcasters, Unltd and Social Investment Business.
Its content focuses on three strands: Make Together (creativity), Better Together (wellbeing) and Get Together (community). It wants to encourage viewers to take part in more community activities, take up healthier lifestyles and get into arts and crafts.
The channel is owned by the Community Channel, a community benefit society, which has charitable status but is exempt from registration with the Charity Commission.
Programmes to feature on the channel include Mary’s Silver Service in which Mary Portas gets retirees back into the workforce, and The Hospice, an observational documentary series set amongst patients and staff in a Gravesend hospice.
Together is also launching digital partnerships with Facebook, YouTube, DailyMotion, and Little Dot Studios, to bring long-form on-demand to the channel’s website at www.togethertv.com, partner platforms and leading catch-up services. Short-form content from the channel will also appear on Facebook and YouTube
Alexander Kann, chief executive of Together, said: “Together is optimistic, friendly, encouraging, accessible and celebrates the quirks of British life. It is about what makes this country great. The people, the communities and the many cultures. By celebrating the great real-life stories, we hope to encourage viewers to be all they can be, and connect them with ways to do more for their community.”
Community Channel almost shut down
Together's owner is the Community Channel, a TV channel launched in 2000 which has over 17 years expanded to 24-hour broadcast across all the main TV platforms following extensive support by public service broadcasters, platform operators, TV channel groups and digital publishers.
In 2016 the channel came close to shutting down before it secured the channel’s charitable community benefit society status, making it the first member-owned national TV channel in the world.
The Community Channel continues to own and operate Together with support from the media industry and the community, voluntary and charity sectors.
Caroline Diehl, chair of Together, said: “Together is the perfect platform for local voluntary groups and community organisations. By weaving content that celebrates inspiring community heroes and projects with engaging smart entertainment series and exclusive documentaries, it puts the organisations in front of an audience already committed to do good and to do more.”
Together is broadcasting 24-hours on Freeview 93, Sky 539, Virgin 269 and freesat 164.
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