Channel 4’s digital-first brand Channel 4.0 and After Party Studios emerged as the headline winners at the TellyCast Digital Video Awards 2026, as the industry gathered in London to celebrate the continued growth of platform-native entertainment and storytelling.
Held at The Londoner in Leicester Square and hosted by Specs Gonzalez, the awards recognised standout achievements across social video, creator-led entertainment, branded content, factual storytelling and streaming innovation.
Channel 4.0 was named Social Video Channel of the Year, with judges praising the brand’s strong creative identity, audience engagement and ability to connect with younger viewers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. The channel, developed as a YouTube-first extension of Channel 4, has built a significant multi-platform audience through creator-led commissions and social-native formats.
Studio of the Year went to After Party Studios, which was recognised for its commercial growth and digital-first entertainment output. Judges highlighted the studio’s work across creator collaborations, branded entertainment and large-scale live productions, including projects linked to the Sidemen Charity Match 2025.
Among the night’s most successful winners was Dish from Waitrose, produced by Cold Glass Productions and hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett. The series secured three awards, including Video Podcast, Interview Format and Food Channel of the Year. Judges commended the show’s blend of food, conversation and long-form storytelling, as well as its success across YouTube and social platforms.
The awards also reflected growing industry focus on innovation and impact. Spirit Studios was recognised for its use of AI tools in production design on Ed Gein: Original Psycho, while BBC Studios won praise for EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere, which was highlighted for its educational value and social impact.
Inclusion and factual storytelling were also recognised, with wins for Jungle Creations’s Four Nine, alongside factual category awards for Hunting My Sextortion Scammer – UNTOLD from Channel 4 and Geordie Stories: Nathan & Dad from MTV.
Other winners included:
- BAM! Comedy – Comedy Channel of the Year
- Strong Watch Studios’ A Comedy Thing – New Channel of the Year
- Objekt – Breakthrough Studio
- The Soho Agency – Creator Talent Agency of the Year
- ITV Studios’ River Monsters – Digital Catalogue Exploitation
- Holywater Tech’s My Drama – Microdrama App of the Year
Justin Crosby, founder of TellyCast, said the awards highlighted how digital-first storytelling has become central to the global entertainment business.
“From creator-led comedy and branded content to investigative documentaries, microdrama platforms and video podcasts, the evening demonstrated the continued rise of platform-native storytelling as a dominant creative force in global video,” he said.
Pictured, the Channel 4.0 team
