Manchester Metropolitan University and Spark Media Partners Limited KTP 24_25 R5

A television production company is building an AI assistant to cut the cost and time of editing low-budget TV shows. Low-budget television operates on razor-thin margins. A single day of overrun in post-production—where editors assemble footage, add effects, and polish sound—can wipe out a programme’s entire profit. Without cheaper ways to work, many small production companies cannot survive the shift to streaming, where audiences expect high production values on shoestring budgets. This project addresses that gap by developing an AI that can assist with creative decisions—suggesting cuts, organising raw footage, or automating repetitive tasks—rather than replacing human editors entirely. If the AI works as intended, it could keep small production houses in business, preserving the diversity of voices that low-budget television provides. The technology might also transfer to other creative industries—advertising, corporate video, or online content—where time and money are equally tight. The project is applied, not fundamental science: it aims to solve a specific industrial problem. Success would mean a practical tool, not a new theory.