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Actor James Nesbitt and two former rugby stars are among the co-founders of Folding Pocket, a new multimedia storytelling company making audio stories that will be part of Platform, a newly formed group of media and technology companies that collaborate to build brands.
The newly formed production venture is working on original content with major platforms including Spotify, Audible, and Amazon Music.
Matthew Sherry, CEO of Platform, says: “Podcasts are growing exponentially, but we’ve heard consistently from brands that they don’t know how to activate within them. There is also an issue of standing out in a saturated market when the only real shop windows for podcasts are the apps that distribute them. The Platform model solves both issues, as illustrated by The Good, The Bad & The Rugby. Not only is GB&R probably the biggest non-linear rugby programming in the world, but the brand is also on course to deliver significant commercial media value in its first year."
James Nesbitt adds: “When I first saw the plans for what was coming together here, I knew I had to be involved. A couple of things excited me above all. One, the business model – it’s as ambitious as it is unique in the market, and it will prove to be incredibly attractive for earning the attention of the highest calibre of talent. And, secondly, the quality of the programming. Looking across the board from the sports and entertainment projects to the narrative journalism and scripted fiction, the concepts and formats that have been devised here are exceptional. And, specifically in drama, the scripts for some of Folding Pocket’s upcoming productions are innovative, thrilling, and beautifully written.”
Platform is home to three companies in addition to Folding Pocket: Wildfire, a social media agency; Wildfire Sport, a publisher, and communications agency; and Format, who focuses on tools that automate content creation and publishing.