The Independent Sector

Why does Channel 4 Exist?

Channel 4 was set up by the government with a unique model and remit that aims to stimulate the independent production sector, drive innovation in broadcasting and to commission programmes that showcase Britain in all of its diversity and to stimulate debate.
Channel 4 drive innovation and growth by exploiting a publicly-owned asset (the terrestrial broadcasting spectrum) to reach audiences and generate revenues. Those revenues go back into funding independent production companies, which retain the rights to the programmes that they create.
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By retaining the rights to their content, independent production companies can then go on to sell their content internationally.
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On top of all of this, Channel 4 provide invaluable knowledge and promotional support to help grow the UK’s broadcasting sector and foster its entrepreneurialism.

The Channel 4 Remit in 2020

The remit, which has evolved and been refined in legislation since 1982, combines a number of elements. It requires Channel 4 to be innovative, to inspire change, to nurture talent and to offer a platform for alternative views.
Today, it also requires Channel 4 to not just provide Education content for 14–19-year-olds, but to provide content with an editorial tone that is educational in programmes from other genres, including Factual.
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This applies across all genres and services, Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, 4Seven, All 4 and digital projects. Channel 4 must also meet a set of specific quantitative licence obligations, set and monitored by Ofcom, for News and Current Affairs, original production, regional production, subtitling and audio-description services and much else besides.