What Turbine Studios does

Turbine Studios is a London-based independent production company founded in 2018 by four senior UK film and television executives — Tracey Scoffield (formerly Head of Development at BBC Films), Andrew Eaton (founder of Revolution Films and producer of The Crown), David Tanner, and Justin Thomson (formerly of Film Four and Artists Studio). The company develops and produces high-end scripted drama anthologies, limited series, feature films, and documentaries targeting global audiences, with a recurring creative relationship with director Steve McQueen.

Its core catalogue spans the Small Axe anthology of five films (Mangrove, Lovers Rock, Red White and Blue, Alex Wheatle, Education), the Netflix feature Munich: The Edge of War, the Apple TV+ series Constellation, and the in-development Beatles series Hamburg Days, alongside socially-themed documentaries such as Uprising, Black Power: A British Story of Resistance, and Subnormal: A British Scandal. The productions are commissioned, co-produced, and distributed directly through enterprise relationships with BBC (and BBC iPlayer), Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and ZDF, with co-production partners including Haut et Court TV and W&B Television.

Revenue is generated through production fees, co-production financing, and licensing rights for completed productions — a project-based professional services model. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated deal-by-deal with commissioning platforms. In November 2022 BBC Studios acquired a minority equity stake, providing capital specifically earmarked to expand creative and operational teams and to develop international collaborations. Turbine operates with a small core team (1–10 employees) supplemented by project-based production crews and creative talent engaged per production.

Name

Turbine Studios

Legal name

Turbine Studios

Website

https://turbinestudios.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Turbine Studios is a London-based independent UK production company founded in 2018 that develops and produces high-end scripted drama, documentaries, and films for global broadcasters and streaming platforms, including BBC, Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and ZDF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Production Services and Co-productions: Turbine Studios generates revenue through producing TV series and films for major broadcasters and streaming platforms. Revenue comes from production fees, co-production financing, and licensing rights to completed productions distributed through platforms like BBC, Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and ZDF.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Turbine Studios is a UK independent production company that develops and produces high-end scripted drama series, documentary series, and feature films for global broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company secures commissions and co-production financing from buyers such as BBC, Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and ZDF, then delivers completed productions for distribution on those platforms. Its portfolio centers on prestige drama and documentary work created in collaboration with award-winning directors including Steve McQueen.

Product overview

Turbine Studios is a UK-based production company established in 2018, producing high-end television dramas, documentaries, and films with global appeal. The company's portfolio centers on critically acclaimed projects including the Small Axe anthology series (comprising Mangrove, Lovers Rock, Red White and Blue, Alex Wheatle, and Education), the Apple TV+ psychological thriller Constellation, Netflix historical drama Munich: The Edge of War, and the BBC Beatles series Hamburg Days. Turbine Studios also produces documentary works such as Uprising, Black Power: A British Story of Resistance, and Subnormal: A British Scandal. The company collaborates with major broadcasters including BBC, Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon, and ZDF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Axe A collection of five films about the experiences of London's West Indian community from the 1960s through to the mid-1980s, created by Steve McQueen for BBC One. Commissioned and broadcast by the BBC as the anchor prestige drama of Turbine Studios' slate.
• Education Television film directed by Steve McQueen about a 12-year-old boy transferred to a special-needs school where West Indian women uncover an unofficial segregation policy preventing many Black children from receiving an education. Part of the Small Axe anthology for BBC One.
• Mangrove Television film directed by Steve McQueen, telling the true story of Frank Crichlow whose West Indian restaurant in Notting Hill was the target of relentless police raids, leading to a landmark trial. Part of the Small Axe anthology; selected for the Cannes 2020 official competition.
• Lovers Rock Television film directed by Steve McQueen, a fictional story of young love at a blues party in 1980 and an ode to the romantic reggae genre lovers rock. Part of the Small Axe anthology; selected for the Cannes 2020 official competition.
• Red, White and Blue Television film directed by Steve McQueen following a young Black man who joins the police force hoping to change racist attitudes from within the institution. Part of the Small Axe anthology for BBC One.
• Alex Wheatle Television film directed by Steve McQueen, telling the true story of award-winning writer Alex Wheatle from his childhood in institutional care to finding community in Brixton. Part of the Small Axe anthology for BBC One.
• Munich: The Edge of War Historical drama film adapted from Robert Harris' novel, set in 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of conflict, starring Jeremy Irons and George MacKay. Licensed to Netflix for global streaming distribution following its London Film Festival premiere.
• Uprising A 3-part documentary series made for the BBC by Steve McQueen and James Rogan about the tragedy and aftermath of events in 1981 that defined race relations in the United Kingdom for a generation. Executive produced by Tracey Scoffield, Justin Thomson, and David Tanner.
• Constellation An 8-part conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series for Apple TV+ starring Noomi Rapace as an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space to discover pieces of her life are missing, alongside Jonathan Banks. Co-produced with Haut et Court TV.
• Black Power: A British Story of Resistance Documentary examining the Black Power movement in the late 1960s in the UK, featuring interviews with past activists speaking for the first time about their experiences. Directed by George Amponsah; executive produced by Tracey Scoffield and Justin Thomson; distributed via BBC and Amazon in the US.
• Subnormal: A British Scandal Documentary directed by Lyttanya Shannon examining one of the biggest scandals in British education history, through the eyes of Black parents, teachers, and activists who banded together to expose the injustice. Executive produced by Tracey Scoffield and Justin Thomson; distributed via BBC and Amazon in the US.
• In My Own Words: Hanif Kureishi A definitive and intimate documentary directed by Nigel Williams in which Hanif Kureishi reflects on his life and work, including his recovery from a 2022 accident.
• Hamburg Days A six-part series chronicling The Beatles' early years in Hamburg's St. Pauli district in the 1960s, co-produced with W&B Television and co-financed by AGC Television, with broadcast acquired by BBC and ZDF (Germany).

Quantifiable outcome

• Small Axe received 15 BAFTA nominations - a record number
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• W&B TelevisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026W&B Television is co-producing the Beatles series 'Hamburg Days' with Turbine Studios. The six-part series chronicles The Beatles' early years in Hamburg and is co-financed by AGC Television with broadcast acquired by BBC.
• Lee & ThompsonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 November 2022Law firm Lee & Thompson advised Turbine Studios on the BBC Studios investment announced on 30 November 2022.
• Haut et Court TVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Haut et Court TV co-produced Constellation, an 8-part psychological thriller series for Apple TV+, alongside Turbine Studios. Executive Producers include David Tanner, Tracey Scoffield, and Justin Thomson from Turbine Studios.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sister Pictures: UK-based independent production company (backed by Sky/Comcast) producing prestige scripted drama such as Chernobyl and The Pursuit of Love. Closely comparable to Turbine in size, founder pedigree, and focus on BAFTA-elimited premium drama with global streamers.
• See-Saw Films: UK/Australian independent production company behind The Power of the Dog, Slow Horses, and The Essex Serpent. Directly comparable as a prestige drama and film producer with multi-platform distribution and award-winning output.
• Bad Wolf: Welsh/UK indie drama producer (His Dark Materials, Industry) co-founded by former BBC executives Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner. Closely analogous founder profile, scale, and BBC-anchored origin, and was itself acquired by BBC Studios.
• Neal Street Productions: Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Caro Newling's UK indie production outfit behind Call My Agent!, Penny Dreadful and The Franchise. Comparable as a small, founder-led UK indie focused on prestige scripted drama for global platforms.
• Carnival Films: UK-based producer of Downton Abbey and The Last Kingdom, owned by NBCUniversal. Comparable in producing high-end British scripted drama with global distribution, though at a larger scale and as part of a major studio group.
• Heyday Films: David Heyman's UK production company behind the Harry Potter franchise, Marriage Story and The Pacific. Comparable as a UK-based, founder-led production business producing premium drama and film for global platforms.

Broad incumbents

• All3Media: Major UK-headquartered television production group (owned by Liberty Global and Sony Pictures Television) with dozens of indie labels across drama, factual, and entertainment. Operates at far larger scale but competes for the same premium drama commissions.
• StudioCanal: European film and television production-distribution arm of Canal+ Group. Overlaps with Turbine in premium drama/film production for global platforms, but operates as a much larger integrated studio with distribution infrastructure.
• Working Title Films: Long-established UK film and TV producer (Love Actually, Bridget Jones, Baby Reindeer) owned by NBCUniversal. Comparable in producing globally distributed British scripted content but at substantially larger scale and as part of a major studio group.
• Fremantle: Global production and distribution company behind series such as The Responder, Normal People and Ripley. Competes for the same premium international drama commissions as Turbine but as a much larger integrated group with global distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/turbinestudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turbinestudios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Turbine Studios