John McKenna is a co-founder and CEO at Noah Media, a production and technology company specialising in producing high-quality sports documentaries and films. Having started his career at ITV Sport, McKenna became a freelance television director (with BAFTA[1] and Grierson[2] nominations) and producer, delivering live and documentary programming. He co-founded Noah in 2015, after his first feature documentary was an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival, and the company now has a slate of critically acclaimed documentaries, working with some of the biggest streamers, broadcasters and production partners in the world. Recent films which McKenna has been a producer on include Hatton (Sky – BAFTA & Grierson nominated), Villeneuve Pironi (Sky), 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible (Netflix & Emmy nominated), Arsène Wenger: Invincible (Amazon Prime Video), Finding Jack Charlton (BBC - Broadcast Documentary of the Year), The Edge (BBC/Amazon) and Bobby Robson: More than a Manager (Netflix, Amazon, ITV). The company recently raised finance for its first Content Fund and has five global feature documentaries in production for release in 2024/25. It has also financed and built its own audience analytics technology, SlateIQ.[3]
Early life and education
John grew up in St Helens, Merseyside and attended West Park High School (which became De La Salle, St Helens), Widnes 6th Form College and the University of Leicester, where he gained a BA (Hons) in History.
Career beginnings
At the age of 21 he started his career in 1995 at the Independent Sport Network in London, which became ITV Sport.[4] He progressed through the levels at ITV Sport,[4] winning several RTS Sport Awards[5] for his creative directing work, notably working on On The Ball with Gabriel Clarke. His early documentaries were critically acclaimed, including Clough (2009, Grierson nominated) and The Fight of their Lives (2012, BAFTA[6] nominated). John was BAFTA[6] nominated twice for his work as a producer on The Boat Race. John became a live sport director and programme editor and held the title of Creative Director at ITV Sport.[4] After 13 years at ITV John became a freelance television director and producer, delivering both live and documentary programming. He was a studio director on the BAFTA winning Channel 4 2012 Paralympic Games coverage and was the Series Director for the first two series of the long-running and hugely decorated comedy programme, The Last Leg.
John McKenna is now a prominent figure in the sports documentary industry, particularly known for his work with Emmy-Award winning and BAFTA[1] nominated Noah Media Group. He is a co-founder and CEO at Noah Media, a company specialising in producing high-quality sports documentaries and films.
In 2015 he co-founded Noah Media Group alongside Barry Smith, Gabriel Clarke, and Torquil Jones. The company was established with a clear vision: to create high-quality, impactful content that resonates with audiences worldwide and uses technology in a unique was in the media world. The founders shared a passion for storytelling, particularly within the sports genre, which has become a hallmark of the company’s output. Their work has been featured on major platforms like Netflix,[7] Amazon Prime Video, and BBC, reaching a global audience
In 2023, Noah Media Group was honored with the prestigious Broadcast Sports Production Company of the Year award, solidifying its reputation as a leading force in sports storytelling and documentary production. This accolade recognized the company’s outstanding work in creating high-quality sports content that engages audiences and sets new standards in sports filmmaking.
Work
References
Other websites
