Overview

Channel 4 is a publicly-owned and commercially-funded UK public service broadcaster, with a statutory remit to deliver high-quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo.

Channel 4 was set up with a unique model as a ‘publisher-broadcaster’, meaning that we do not have any in-house production, but instead commission content from production companies throughout the UK.

We are a self-sufficient business that reinvests all profits back into programmes, at zero cost to the taxpayer. A ‘Robin Hood’ model of cross-funding means programmes that make money pay for others that are key to delivering our remit but that are loss-making e.g. News and Current Affairs.

Our twin goals as a content provider and business are to fulfil our remit and to be commercially self-sufficient.

Statutory public service remit – 15 elements, including:

• Be innovative and distinctive
• Stimulate public debate on contemporary issues
• Reflect cultural diversity of the UK
• Champion alternative points of view
• Inspire change in people’s lives
• Nurture new and existing talent

State-owned public service broadcaster

• Established as a statutory corporation
• Regulated by Ofcom
• Subject to 16 licence quotas and other requirements, including:
  • News and Current Affairs
  • Originally commissioned programmes
  • Out of London commissioning
  • Access services

Social enterprise model

• Commercially funded
• Not-for-profit: all surplus goes back into content
• Robin Hood system of profit-making genres such as Factual Entertainment cross-funding loss-making ones like News and Current Affairs

Publisher-broadcaster

• No in-house production unlike the BBC, ITV or Sky
• 100% of UK programmes commissioned from UK production companies
• Supports wide range of companies across the Nations and Regions
• Works with large number of SMEs

Channel 4 is a broadcaster with a purpose. We’re defined by our unique public service remit. Part of this means nurturing the talent that will help us fulfil it. So doing what you do best will enable us to do what we do best: creating innovative programmes and content that reflect the UK’s richly diverse cultural landscape. We’re here to stimulate debate; to champion alternative points of view; and to inspire change in people’s lives. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you’ll be part of a proudly British Public Service Broadcaster. You’ll be part of who we are. So whether you’re just starting out in our industry or wondering where you can go next, we’ll happily be part of your journey.

It takes a wealth of experience, insight, expertise and commitment to keep us on air. We can’t work without our departments; and our departments won’t work without the talent and commitment of our people. There’s a host of ways you can get involved. Here’s where you can learn more about the detail of the many and varied teams that make us who we are and enable what we do.