Film production group Argonon has appointed Accelerate Worldwide, the management consultancy co-founded by ex-AOL Europe CEO Kate Burns, to bolster its digital growth strategy.
The move marks Argonon, which is in the process of launching a digital hub for TV programme Cash in the Attic, as the debut client of the recently launched Accelerate Worldwide, set up by Burns (pictured) and other senior UK media executives last month.
Burns’ Accelerate Worldwide will input to Argonon’s digital strategy by advising on a potential acquisition of a digital specialist company that can work with brands to produce creative content or advise on senior hires.
Argonon, has worked with UK broadcasters on the production of programmes like Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You (BBC3) and Rita Simons: My Daughter Deafness and Me (BBC1), and aims to explore the possibility of new multimedia productions through the partnership.
James Burstall, CEO of Argonon, said, “Digital and cross platform entertainment offer rich opportunities for innovation and disruptive rule-breaking and we are driving forwards with a sense of excitement…and await lots of vigorous surprises ahead.”
Accelerate’s Burns, added, “Digital is key to the creative lifeblood and future proofing of the TV industry and to the innate innovation that exists within successful entertainment businesses such as Argonon.
Accelerate Worldwide launched formally last month by Burns and a host of other digital media veterans, including Pat Nelson, Anthony Webb and Nimeshh Patel, in a bid to identify potential growth opportunities for both established firms and start-up companies.
Speaking with new media age at time of launch, Burns said Accelerate would advise on commercial development, including development of revenue models and establishment of specialist teams, to aid them with the disruption of digital media.
“You only have to look at things like social,” she said. “It’s definitely turned a page and most brands have a social strategy these days but the jury is still out on how to gauge its success and the currency we use to measure it.”
She also raised similar points with the emergence of mobile highlighting how that many companies now have mobile properties, such as apps, which are finding uptake from audiences.
“But we still have a long way to go in terms of in-app monetisation… be that through subscription or whatever,” she added. “What we have to do is join the dots [between usage and subsequent monetisation].”
