Channel 4 Corporation five-year review

Channel 4 Corporation (C4C) operates Channel 4 as well as a number of other television channels and online services. It has been given a range of media content duties by Parliament which it must deliver across all these services. Ofcom is required to review C4C’s delivery of these duties over the same period as that set for the PSB review.

This report sets out the findings and conclusions of our second review of C4C’s performance delivery of its duties and covers the period 2014-2018. ‘Small Screen, Big Debate: A five-year review of UK public service broadcasting’, discusses Channel 4’s contribution to the broader PSB remit over this time period.

We consider that C4C largely met its media content duties over the review period, delivering a range of high-quality programmes and successfully innovating online. Audiences continue to rate Channel 4 highly including in terms of creative risk-taking and providing alternative points of view. They also valued C4C’s news and current affairs output as a trusted take on the day’s events and its coverage of diversity on screen continued to be a strength. C4C also increased its investment in content aimed at older children and teenagers.

In terms of areas where C4C can do more, we found C4C did not show as many new ideas on screen or source as many commissions from different producers over this review period. Our review also considers the risks that C4C faces in delivering its duties in the future in the light of changing audience habits and wider market developments.

Channel 4 Corporation's performance in delivering its media content duties (2014-18) (PDF, 811.7 KB)