C4 to boost programme spend by £50m
January 25, 2012
Channel 4 is to boost its programming budget by about £50 million (€60m) in 2012, as the broadcaster struggles to address a fall of almost 10 per cent in viewing by 16- to 34- year-olds.
David Abraham, the chief executive of Channel 4, is set to announce that the broadcaster intends to boost its programming budget to £450 million in 2012. Channel 4 is estimated to have spent about £400 million in 2011, meaning the broadcaster is increasing its programming investment by about 12.5 per cent year on year.
Channel 4 is still struggling to find a major, ongoing ratings hit for young viewers to replace Big Brother, and has been hurt by the return of the format to TV on rival network Channel 5.