Channel 4

History

IBA Control: 1982–1990

In 1980 Britain had three terrestrial television channels: BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. The 1980 Broadcasting Act began the process of adding a fourth, and Channel 4 was formally created by an Act of Parliament in 1982. After some weeks of test broadcasts it began scheduled transmissions on November 2 1982.

Related Topics:
BBC1 - BBC2 - ITV - November 2 - 1982

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From the start, the channel set out to provide an alternative to the existing channels. In doing so it sometimes, in the eyes of its critics (including the public decency campaigner Mary Whitehouse), overstepped the boundaries of acceptability, but it has arguably led to a liberalisation of the UK television industry. Programming such as the "red triangle" series, The Tube, and Network 7 often straddled the boundary between being pioneering and being beyond the pale.

Related Topics:
Mary Whitehouse - Red triangle - The Tube

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Channel 4 was one of the first "publishing only" television broadcasters in the world. All of its programming is produced by other companies; it exists only to fund, broadcast and distribute it. It was also the first broadcaster in the world to put its name on the introduction or credits of programmes it did not produce, a practice that is now widespread. For example, at the end of a programme, the independent producer's logo appears, with the words 'a production for Channel Four' and 'Channel Four Television Corporation (c) '. Thus although it does not produce programmes, many are seen to be belonging to it.

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Initially, the station was managed by the Independent Broadcasting Authority through subscription from the ITV franchise holders. In return, advertising on the channel (and advertising revenue) was handled by the ITV regions. This both removed the need for Channel 4 to establish its own relationships with advertisers, and kept it from competing too closely with ITV. In many ways, Channel 4 was the first version of ITV2, complementing ITV programming in the same way BBC2 did with BBC1.

Related Topics:
Independent Broadcasting Authority - ITV2 - BBC2 - BBC1

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While the channel greatly pleased many minority groups (ethnic, sexuality and others), it never found a wide mainstream audience.

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Channel 4 also funded independent films during this period, in addition to made-for-TV material.

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Independence: 1990–Today

The 1990 Broadcasting Act http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing_numbering/tv/c4/Channel_4_licence_Dec_2002.doc altered the organisation of Channel 4, transforming it into a public corporation with a board partly appointed by the new Independent Television Commission. While its original remit was preserved, the channel now had to manage its own advertising (a potential disaster for a public service broadcaster), with a 'safety net' guaranteed minimum income should the revenue fall too low (which it so far has not). This safety net was funded by large insurance payments which the company had to make to the ITV companies. These premiums were phased out by the government in 1998.

Related Topics:
Independent Television Commission - 1998

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Its new independence help bring in a rash of programming changes. Instead of aiming for the fringes of society, it began to focus on the edges of the mainstream, and the centre of the mass market itself. It began to show many US programmes in peak viewing time, previously a rarity on UK terrestrial television. It premiered such shows as Friends and ER.

Related Topics:
Friends - ER

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It also started broadcasting a lot of reality formats (including Big Brother), and sports like cricket and horse racing. This new direction caused its ratings (and revenues) to skyrocket.

Related Topics:
Big Brother - Cricket - Horse racing

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In addition, it launched a number of subscription channels. These included a number of FilmFour channels, focusing on independent and non-English language films; attheraces, a horse racing channel; and E4, primarily an entertainment channel. Some of the FilmFour channels plus attheraces were discontinued due to a lack of interest.

Related Topics:
FilmFour - Attheraces - E4

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In 2002, Channel 4's film financing division (FilmFour) was closed, due to massive losses. It had however had various successes, most notably Four Weddings and a Funeral and Trainspotting.

Related Topics:
Four Weddings and a Funeral - Trainspotting

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Partially in reaction to its new populist direction, the Communications Act of 2003 directed the channel to demonstrate innovation, experimentation and creativity, appeal to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society and to include programmes of an educational nature which exhibit a distinctive character.

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In 2005, Channel 4 made E4 'free to air' on the Freeview platform, and is to launch a new 'free to air' terrestrial channel on the same platform (More4), and may begin a new radio service based on OneWord.

Related Topics:
More4 - OneWord

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