Advanced Television

Alex Mahon

C4 “digital-first” by 2030, as job cuts rise

Channel 4 has unveiled its five-year plan to reshape the organisation and accelerate its transformation into a genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. Meanwhile there are numerous reports that previously specified job cuts of 200 will now reach 250. This would represent the biggest cuts in the pubcasters history and account for 15 per […]

January 29, 2024

Channel 4 warns of job cuts

Channel 4 is planning a round of job cuts as the UK broadcaster shifts its focus to streaming. Up to 200 job cuts are expected, with an official announcement due later this quarter. In an internal email sent to staff, CEO Alex Mahon said: “What we are doing now is accelerating our existing plans to […]

January 8, 2024

MPs to quiz C4 chiefs

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK House of Commons is to hold an Evidence Session on the work of Channel 4. The meeting on November 28th is a regular scrutiny session of the broadcaster’s annual performance. The Committee will quiz the Chair (Sir Ian Cheshire), and Chief Executive of Channel 4 (Alex […]

November 27, 2023By Colin Mann

Media Bill: Industry reaction

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the UK House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has welcomed the introduction of the Media Bill after the Secretary of State confirmed that the Government has accepted the majority of recommendations made by the Committee after its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. Commenting on the First Reading of […]

November 9, 2023By Colin Mann

UK announces C4 production protections

The UK’s TV production industry will benefit from a package of new safeguards as the government proceeds with reforms – including via the Media Bill introduced in Parliament on November 8th – to support Channel 4’s long-term sustainability. Earlier in 2023, the government committed to giving Channel 4 the ability via the Media Bill to […]

November 8, 2023

Channel 4 CEO: “There’s too much to watch”

Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, delievering a speech at the opening session of the RTS Cambridge Convention 2023, suggested that in present times, there is simply too much too watch. Her speech in full: “Five months ago the Channel 4 team set out to determine what the new ‘video day’ for consumers is really made […]

September 20, 2023

Channel 4 reports £1.14bn FY revenue

Channel 4 has published its 2022 Annual Report which it says shows “strong and resilient results, with solid building blocks for future growth in place”. 2022 performance highlights include: All-time record £713 million (€835.2m) invested in British content Ended year with £1.14 billion revenues, topping £1 billion for second consecutive year Digital revenues increased 14 […]

July 12, 2023

Channel 4 to remain publicly owned

Following the emergence of correspondence that suggested such a move was likely, Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has decided not to privatise Channel 4 after reviewing the business case for its sale. The broadcaster will remain in public ownership but with greater commercial flexibility, increased investment in […]

January 5, 2023By Colin Mann

Channel 4 responds to government reversal

Channel 4 has released a statement in response to the UK government’s decision to drop its plans to privatise the commercial public service broadcaster. The statement reads: We welcome the Government’s decision that Channel 4 will remain in public ownership. This decision provides a firm basis on which to establish the sustainable direction of Channel […]

January 5, 2023

C4 CEO: ‘Government policy may change’

Alex Mahon, CEO at UK public service broadcaster Channel 4, has acknowledged that the change in leadership of the governing Conservative Party and arrival of a new Secretary of State with responsibility for the broadcast sector, may impact on the previously announced intention to privatise the service. “Where we are now is that the government […]

September 27, 2022Colin Mann @ RTS London Convention 2022