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66-572: The company was founded in 1982 as the Channel Four Television Company Limited , a wholly-owned subsidiary of the IBA , and became an independent statutory corporation in 1993. November 1998 saw Channel Four expand beyond its remit of providing the 'fourth service' in a significant way, with the launch of Film4 . Since then the corporation has been involved in a range of other activities, all in some way associated with

132-510: A National Broadcasting School to train on-air and engineering staff. The IBA's approach to regulation was more robust than that of its successors, and it assumed the ultimate role of the broadcaster (whereas today, TV licensees are termed "broadcasters in their own right"). The IBA took a very "hands-on" approach and placed the interests of the viewer before anything else. For example, if two ITV licensees wanted to merge, or another wanted to change its broadcast name, this would require approval by

198-506: A user-generated content animation portal, similar to Aniboom or MyToons . Channel 4 operates a video on demand service. Launched on 16 November 2006 as 4oD, the service offers a variety of programmes recently shown on Channel 4, E4 , More4 or from their archives. However, some programmes and films are not available, due to rights issues. The service was renamed All 4 in March 2015. On 17 April 2023, All 4 rebranded as Channel 4, becoming

264-420: A course of four weeks. From 1989 to 1992, weekly winnings could not average more than £5,000 per individual contestant or £6,000 in total winnings per week. British versions of popular American quiz shows had to be adjusted – The $ 64,000 Question having a maximum prize initially of 64,000 sixpences (£1,600) in the late 1950s, and in the early 1990s of just £6,400. "The Six Thousand Four Hundred Pound Question"

330-609: A house. In 1960, two years after the quiz show scandals in America, the Independent Television Authority (predecessor of the IBA) imposed a £ 1,000 cap on the value of prizes which increased to £1,250 during the late 1970s with an occasional limit of £2,000 which rose to £2,500 by 1981. From 1981 to 1988, weekly winnings could average no more than £1,750. On occasion, said limit could increase to £3,500 over

396-603: A lack of transparency in accounting for digital channels, poor governance and failed investments. Channel Four Television Corporation was considered for privatisation by the governments of Margaret Thatcher , John Major and Tony Blair . In 2014, the Cameron-Clegg coalition government drew up proposals to privatise the corporation but the sale was blocked by the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable . In 2016,

462-631: A long record of success in funding the production of films through Channel Four Films, renamed FilmFour in 1998 to coincide with the launch of its digital channel of the same name. Notable successes include The Madness of King George , The Crying Game , Four Weddings and a Funeral and Trainspotting . In 2000, Channel Four launched a dedicated horse racing channel, At the Races, in conjunction with British Sky Broadcasting and Arena Leisure plc , owner of 28 of Britain's racecourses. The channel ceased broadcasting in 2003 owing to financial problems, but

528-689: A new national headquarters in Leeds , to operate alongside the existing headquarters in London. In September 2021, 200 staff moved into several floors of the Majestic , a former cinema in Leeds city centre which had been renovated by Rushbond . In January 2024, Channel 4 announced they would sell 124 Horseferry Road, as part of cost-cutting measures. The Big 4 is a 50-foot-tall statue of the Channel 4 logo which

594-560: A restructure of 4Ventures saw many of its activities re-integrated back into the main channel's operations (including day-to-day running of E4, Film4 and More4). 4Rights was formed from an amalgamation of Channel 4 International and Channel 4 Consumer Products. As part of the restructure, much of the 4Ventures management team either left the company—former chief executive (and Channel 4 commercial director) Rob Woodward, and managing director Anmar Kawash took similar posts at STV Group plc —‚or transferred to other posts within Channel 4. In 2007,

660-512: Is broadcast every day and has a permanent 7pm slot on weekdays. Channel Four launched a subscription film channel, FilmFour, on 1 November 1998. It was available on digital satellite television and digital cable. Companion services, such as FilmFour+1, FilmFour World and FilmFour Extreme were also available on some digital services. In 2003 Extreme and World were discontinued, and replaced with FilmFour Weekly. FilmFour Weekly closed in July 2006, when

726-532: Is produced by ITN , and has been in operation since Channel 4's launch in November 1982. Channel 4 News is the name of Channel 4 's main evening news programme. The editor is Esme Wren, appointed in 2022. The programme is presented by Krishnan Guru-Murthy , Cathy Newman , Matt Frei , Jackie Long and Fatima Manji and is on the air Monday to Thursday from 7:00 to 7:55 pm, Friday from 7:00 to 7:30 pm, and at variable times at weekends. Alex Thomson

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792-680: Is still used on 4Music . Channel Four is overseen by a chairman and run on an operational basis by a chief executive, whose role can be compared to that of the Director-General of the BBC . The chief executive is appointed by the chairman, which is a part-time position appointed by Ofcom . Channel Four was originally based at 60 Charlotte Street in the West End of London. Since 1994 the company has occupied distinctive, purpose-built headquarters at 124 Horseferry Road, Westminster. Designed by

858-918: Is the chief correspondent. Channel 4 News is among the highest-rated television programmes in the United Kingdom, winning a record five Royal Television Society Television Awards in February 2006. These included TV Journalist of the Year for Jon Snow, Home News Award for the Attorney-General leak, and the International News Award for Congo's Tin Soldiers. It won the News Coverage British Academy Television Award in 2004 and

924-701: The Broadcasting Act 1990 . Significantly, this meant the abolition of the IBA, and hence the Channel Four Television Company. The result led to the creation of a corporation to own and operate the channel, which would have greater autonomy and would eventually go on to establish its other operations. The new corporation, which became operational in 1993, was the Channel Four Television Corporation, and

990-548: The Channel Islands . During the early 1980s, the E&;D Department designed and manufactured the specialised broadcast receiving and monitoring equipment used to build the national broadcast network for Channel Four . Subsequently, E&D's engineers proposed a system of analogue television encoding known as MAC (Multiplexed Analogue Component) to provide a standard for the forthcoming satellite television broadcasts that

1056-586: The European Broadcasting Union was passed to United Kingdom Independent Broadcasting (UKIB) . Such was the sense of purpose and camaraderie amongst former employees of the IBA that they still meet up near Winchester for an annual reunion in late January, typically boasting an attendance of over fifty. The engineering staff of the IBA contributed many papers to international standards groups and conferences over many years. The IBA also operated an Engineering Information service in support of

1122-520: The Iraq War , and due to its instant success, it was kept on in Channel 4 's daytime schedule (except when live Horse Racing was being broadcast). It was presented by Krishnan Guru-Murthy . Prior to this bulletin, the programme in the slot was Powerhouse , a political news programme, also produced for Channel 4 by ITN. As a consequence of the advertising slowdown during the 2009 recession, the programme

1188-683: The Richard Rogers Partnership with structural engineering by Ove Arup & Partners , the architecture of the 15,000 square metre building follows on from – but is more restrained than – the Lloyd's building in the City of London. It was constructed between 1990 and 1994. Twin four-storey office blocks arranged in an L shape are connected by a curved front with a dramatic concave glazed wall. Despite nearly all Channel 4 programmes being commissioned from independent production companies,

1254-579: The television licence , and the single commercial broadcasting network, ITV . Channel 4 is commercially self-funded. On the conversion of the Wenvoe transmitter in Wales to digital on 31 March 2010, Channel 4 gained UK-wide coverage. The channel is known for broadcasting a variety of programmes aimed at the public's interest. Its aim is to "champion unheard voices, take bold risks and stand up for diversity." The broadcaster's main news bulletin, Channel 4 News ,

1320-427: The "first UK broadcaster to adopt one brand identity across its digital and linear channels". In 2001, 4Ventures was created as the parent body of Channel 4's commercial activities, rather than public-service obligations, with the intent of making profits which would serve to subsidise the main Channel 4. Following the sale of Quiz Call (a gaming channel operated by the then-owned subsidiary Ostrich Media ) in 2006,

1386-653: The 2004 International Emmy for the best news programme produced and aired outside the United States. Jon Snow won the Richard Dimbleby British Academy Television Award in 2005 for outstanding contribution to the world of news and current affairs. In November 2011, Liam Dutton became Channel 4's first ever weather presenter, joining from BBC Weather . The exposé of Cambridge Analytica in conjunction with The Guardian and The New York Times which aired in 2018

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1452-469: The 24th volume published in November 1988. One reason for the termination of the publications was the abolition of the IBA in 1990 and the subsequent privatisation of the Engineering activities as National Transcommunications Limited [NTL]; the government white paper proposing this was published in the autumn of 1988. These reviews are valuable in recording the activities of the various departments of

1518-461: The Channel 4 headquarters originally contained a studio and post-production facility, marketed as 124 Facilities. The studio was used for Channel 4 programmes (such as T4 continuity), and other channels' programmes such as Channel 5's football coverage. The studio was closed at the end of October 2007 and only the post-production operation remains, managed by Ericsson Broadcast and Media Services . In October 2018, Channel 4 announced that it would open

1584-798: The IBA but some articles were written by others from the Independent Television companies and by external specialists. The first volume was published in September 1972 when the Engineering Division was located in Brompton Road, London prior to its move to Crawley Court near Winchester in 1973. Other members of the Division staffed the transmitting stations and maintenance bases spread across the UK. The series ended with

1650-475: The IBA's engineering function, except for a limited number of quality control engineers, was transferred to a newly set-up private company, National Transcommunications Limited (NTL), which continued to run the former IBA transmitter masts. These assets are now within the portfolio operated by Arqiva . In 2008 the IBA's extensive archive was lodged with the University of Bournemouth . The IBA's membership of

1716-453: The IBA. This direct approach also extended to programmes; the IBA could (and did) place limits on how many soap episodes could be shown per week, if they believed programme quality would be compromised. As well as setting guidelines on advertising content (some guidelines only, the remainder being the responsibility of the ASA ), quantity and timings, the IBA also operated monitoring systems for

1782-516: The UK-based independent distribution group Digital Rights Group (DRG) announced an intention to buy Channel 4 International (adding it to Zeal and ID Distribution among its other companies), following a review by Channel 4 of its commercial division. The deal was completed in November of the same year. The Consumer Products division (Including Channel 4 DVD) was retained by Channel 4 as part of a new, restructured, 4Rights division. Channel Four has had

1848-625: The channel launched on digital terrestrial . E4 is widely available in Ireland, in close to 70% of homes, being carried on the Virgin Media Ireland cable network and also on Sky. The channel operates an advertising opt-out, allowing advertisers to directly target Irish audiences. More4 is a channel aimed at those aged 35–60. Launched on 10 October 2005, it carries news and nightly discussion programmes, such as More4 News , an extension of Channel 4 News that attempts to look "beyond

1914-633: The day's news agenda and behind-the-scenes newsroom goings-on. In 2003, Channel 4 News broke the story of the Dodgy Dossier which led to a political crisis in Britain. The story of the Conservative Party's election expenses scandal was first broken, and then pursued for over a year, by Michael Crick . In March 2018, an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News explored the campaign activities of Cambridge Analytica . On

1980-400: The division during a period of considerable change in broadcasting. IBA staff members were active not only in designing, building and operating transmitter networks they also made significant contributions to new digital broadcasting standards and their implementation. The laboratories of the IBA were in the forefront of the development of digital television technology, as can be seen in some of

2046-476: The evening of the 2017 Westminster attack , Channel 4 News claimed they were able to name the dead attacker as Abu Izzadeen, also known as Trevor Brooks. The claim was repeated by The Independent and the Daily Mirror . However, Channel 4 News was forced to issue an on-air retraction during the same bulletin after Izzadeen's solicitor stated that he was alive and serving time in prison. The music in

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2112-578: The future of the channel was again being looked into by the government, with analysts suggesting several options for the channel's future. In June 2021, the government of Boris Johnson was considering selling the channel. In April 2022, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport acknowledged that ministerial discussions were taking place regarding the sale of Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel's chief executive, Alex Mahon, expressed disappointment at this, saying that its vision for

2178-543: The future was "rooted in continued public ownership". However, the Government subsequently announced in January 2023 that the planned sale of the channel had been cancelled. Channel 4 is a national public-service television channel in the United Kingdom which began transmission on 2 November 1982. The channel was established to provide a fourth national television service in addition to the two BBC services funded from

2244-592: The headlines", giving in-depth analysis. Channel Four launched 4seven on 4 July 2012. The channel offers audiences the chance to catch-up on the top-rated programming from Channel Four's boutique of channels over the past week. The channel is available on Freesat , Freeview , Sky , and Virgin Media . Launched on 29 June 2022, E4 Extra is a Channel 4-branded channel, showing entertainment programmes. Channel Four runs timeshift variants of its services (except 4Music and 4seven) on all digital platforms. In 2007, Channel 4

2310-526: The late 1980s the IBA was appointed as regulator and transmitter operator for the first DBS ( direct broadcasting by satellite ) service for the UK and awarded the franchise to BSB ( British Satellite Broadcasting ). A year before the launch of BSB, the rival Sky Television was able to launch an analogue service, and intended to overshadow BSB by leasing transponders from Société Européenne des Satellites ' RCA Astro -built satellite, Astra 1A. Just over six months after BSB's launch, Sky merged with BSB. The IBA

2376-407: The live rights and share the same production company. Channel 4 cross-promote Racing UK's coverage of the day's racing during its broadcasts. In July 2007, Channel Four bought 50% of Box Television Ltd for £28 million from Emap plc . Emap's stake was transferred to new owners, Bauer Consumer Media , following Bauer's acquisition of Emap's publishing and radio businesses. In 2015, Box Television

2442-402: The main channel, and mainly using the '4' brand. The company also owned The Box Plus Network , a music-focused company with a network of six music television channels. They were folded into the corporation in 2019. Towards the end of the 1980s, the government began a radical process of re-organisation of the commercial broadcasting industry, which was written onto the statute books by means of

2508-424: The main, newly named Film4 channel went free-to-view and became available on digital terrestrial . The switchover to digital terrestrial was heavily advertised. The adverts featured Lucy Liu , Christian Slater , Ewan McGregor , Judi Dench , Gael García Bernal , Willem Dafoe , Mackenzie Crook , Rhys Ifans , and Ray Winstone declaring "Film4 is now free" in various situations across London. When Channel 4 had

2574-481: The new Independent Local Radio (ILR) stations. The Independent Television Commission formally replaced the IBA on 1 January 1991 in regulatory terms; however, the authority itself was not officially dissolved until 2003. The IBA appointed and regulated a number of regional programme TV contractors and local radio contractors, and built and operated the network of transmitters distributing these programmes through its Engineering Division. It established and part-funded

2640-512: The programme was cancelled, along with the Channel Four News at Noon , the last broadcast airing on 18 December 2009.  Source: Channel 4 News also produces a variety of non-broadcast media, including a range of journalist authored blogs to deliver insight and analysis of the news from the news team. Channel 4 News also produces Snowmail , a free daily email from the news reporter team, giving their personal take on

2706-456: The quality of programme content and the technical quality of programme play-out. On 19 January 1972, the British government announced the lifting of all restrictions and limits on the number of broadcasting hours per day that both the BBC and ITV could air. Until 1972, both the BBC and ITV were limited to how many normal programming hours they could air during the course of each day – by 1971 it

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2772-472: The radio and television trade. These broadcasts were shown on ITV until May 1983 after which they were shown on Channel 4 and S4C, with the final broadcast taking place on 31 July 1990. Regional programming on ITV was a major concern for the IBA, particularly in the 1980 franchise round. The IBA was determined each franchise provided the best possible local service, so the South of England transmission region

2838-413: The receiver industry and the general public offering information and advice about the transmitter networks and reception issues. Its lasting legacy is a set of IBA Technical Reviews published over a period of 16 years from 1972 to 1988. The complete set of these reviews, as well as some other documents and records, is available for free download. The reviews were primarily written by the technical staff of

2904-406: The restrictions were lifted. Schools programming were now placed in a new 2.5 hour slot each weekday from 9.30am along with the continued production of religious programming and adult education. There were also limits on the value of prizes that could be given away – this dated from the broadcast of the UK version of Twenty-One in 1958 in which a contestant won enough money to buy both a car and

2970-531: The reviews but, after the abolition of the IBA, NTL continued to contribute significantly to the development and implementation of the successor technology that underlies modern Freeview transmissions. Copyright in these documents originally vested in the IBA. On its abolition, its assets were distributed between the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and NTL, each of which has subsequently been absorbed by other bodies. The ITC

3036-747: The rights to broadcast Test cricket in England, the downtime of the FilmFour channel was often used to broadcast uninterrupted coverage of a match when the main channel was committed elsewhere, usually to racing. At these times FilmFour was available unencrypted and free-to-air. E4, a digital entertainment channel previously available on the Internet, with a target age range of 16–34, was launched on 18 January 2001. It features premières of US imports and supplementary footage for programmes on its main channel (most notably extended Big Brother coverage). In 2005

3102-408: The services, especially Channel 4 Radio and E4 Radio, would have competed directly with national BBC Radio stations. Podcast and text services were also to have been provided. In October 2008, Channel 4 announced that it was abandoning its plans for digital radio stations. In 2006 and 2007, the 4radio brand was used for podcasts delivered by Channel 4 Radio. A small amount of 4radio-branded content

3168-479: The station's remit and other duties, the creation of the corporation meant little change; the new corporation would have to manage its own advertising, rather than this being carried out on its behalf by the local ITV contractors (see Funding ). In March 2010, Channel Four Television Corporation and its chief executive were criticised by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for breaking service commitments,

3234-484: Was absorbed by Ofcom and the original NTL has evolved into an independent company, Arqiva . The copyright is now vested in Ofcom. Notable IBA locations included: Notable ex-IBA employees include: John Whitney (Director General 1982–89), Gareth Mitchell , Julian Prictoe, Nic Robertson Channel 4 News Channel 4 News is the main news programme on British television broadcaster Channel 4 . It

3300-402: Was awarded a Peabody Award . In April 2021, Channel 4 and ITN announced that Snow would leave the programme after 32 years. His last show was on 23 December 2021. A replacement for the Channel 4 News at Noon in the 12.00 pm slot, it first aired on 21 December 2009, giving a five-minute summary of the news. Channel Four News at Noon was first introduced in 2003 for the duration of

3366-447: Was called 4-Tel and was provided in collaboration with Oracle . In 1993, with Oracle losing its franchise to Teletext Ltd , the running of 4-Tel was taken over by Intelfax, and in 2002 was renamed FourText. In 2003, Channel 4 awarded Teletext Ltd a ten-year contract to run the channel's ancillary teletext service, named Teletext on 4. The service closed in 2008, and Teletext is no longer available on Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5. Teletext

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3432-415: Was cancelled, along with More4 News and replaced with the five minute Channel 4 News Summary , the last broadcast airing on 18 December 2009.  Aired Monday to Friday on sister channel More4 , More4 News was anchored by Sarah Smith then later Kylie Morris , it ran for 30 minutes, aiming to go in-depth into a certain issue. As a consequence of the advertising slowdown during the 2009 recession,

3498-575: Was constructed outside the building. The Big 4 is designed by FreeState The structure replicates the channel's 2004–2015 idents, in which the "4" logo is formed only when viewed from a particular angle. Also, the Big 4 is adapted into masterpieces created by artists such as British photographer Nick Knight, installation artist Stephanie Imbeau, fashion designer Hannah Gourlay, and most recently disabled artist Tony Heaton. Independent Broadcasting Authority The Independent Broadcasting Authority ( IBA )

3564-504: Was created to replace the former broadcasting operations of the Channel Four Television Company. It remained publicly-owned and was regulated by the new Independent Television Commission (ITC), created under the same act. The ITC and its duties were later replaced by Ofcom , which like its predecessor is responsible for appointing the corporation's board, in agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport . In terms of

3630-708: Was disbanded as part of the Broadcasting Act 1990 , being replaced on New Year's Day 1991 by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) (which also absorbed the Cable Authority), and the Radio Authority (RAu), which have since been merged with other regulators such as the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) and Oftel (Office of Telecommunications) to form one regulator, Ofcom . All of

3696-561: Was heard on Oneword until its closure in January 2008. Oneword was a digital radio station featuring the spoken word, launched in 2000 by UBC . In early 2005 Channel Four purchased a minority stake, and later that year paid £1 million to increase its stake to 51%. On 4 January 2007 it was announced that Channel Four had sold its shares back to UBC for £1. The station ceased broadcasting on 11 January 2008. Channel Four originally licensed an ancillary teletext service to provide schedules, programme information and features. The original service

3762-472: Was limited to 8 hours per day, with exemptions for schools, adult educational, religious programming, state occasions and outdoor sporting coverage. For ITV this meant they could start a proper daytime television schedule, allowing the smaller ITV companies to produce and sell programming to the network. The IBA ensured that along with the new daytime schedules which launched on Monday 16 October 1972 that their public service remit programming would continue after

3828-546: Was more robust than an extension of the existing PAL system used for terrestrial broadcasts. E&D's engineers also designed and built some of the first digital audio equipment for satellite broadcasting including systems using data packets. E&D's engineers made many important contributions to digital television data-rate reduction whereby the encoding of a standard analogue PAL colour signal requiring some 130 Megabits/second has been reduced to less than 4 Megabits/second as used on current digital television broadcasting . In

3894-435: Was only asked every other week, so as not to break the regulatory £6,000/week maximum. The Independent Television Commission abolished such limits in 1993. Throughout its history until just before its demise, the IBA put out a short weekly programme under the title Engineering Announcements , transmitted outside normal programme hours, and not otherwise advertised. These provided valuable technical information for members of

3960-521: Was renamed to The Box Plus Network with a new look and logo. On 29 January 2024, as part of a range of cuts announced by Channel Four Television Corporation, it was announced that all channels in The Box Plus Network would be closed down by the end of the year. The five music TV channels operated by The Box Plus Network were The Box , 4Music , Kiss , Magic and Kerrang! . All five channels closed at 23:59 on 30 June 2024. Channel Four

4026-419: Was responsible for much leading-edge research into broadcasting technology as well as being responsible for the design and manufacture of specialist equipment that could not be procured from commercial manufacturers. In particular, the IBA's E&D Department developed SABRE (Steerable Adaptable Broadcast Receiving Equipment) that enabled mainland broadcast television channels to be received for re-broadcasting in

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4092-533: Was split in two, with the successful applicant required to provide separate news services for the South and South East, while in the Midlands ATV 's commitment to regional output in the Midlands had been a long-running issue for the IBA; in 1980, they were allowed to keep their franchise, but with several tough conditions. The Experimental and Development Department, as part of the IBA's Engineering Division,

4158-514: Was subsequently restructured and re-launched (without Channel 4's involvement) in June 2004, and it is branded with almost identical livery as Sky Sports. Channel 4's racing coverage, renamed to incorporate "At the Races" in the title, returned to its original name of Channel 4 Racing when the channel left involvement with At the Races. Channel 4 racing programmes now feature close co-operation with rival digital racing channel Racing UK , who sub-licence

4224-569: Was the first terrestrial broadcaster in the United Kingdom to offer a time-shift variant of its main channel. In common with many other broadcasters, these channels output exactly the same programmes and continuity as was broadcast an hour previously, and are titled with the station name followed by a "+1" suffix. The channel4.com website offers detailed programme information, highlights, and interviews with actors and presenters of all Channel Four channels. In January 2008, Channel Four joined with Aardman Animations and Lupus Films to create 4mations ,

4290-496: Was the leading member of the 4 Digital Group consortium, which included Bauer Radio , BSkyB and UTV as partners. In July 2007 the group was awarded a 12-year licence to operate the second national DAB radio multiplex after having defeated its only rival, National Grid Wireless , in the three-month bidding process. The service would have operated ten radio stations, including Channel 4 Radio , E4 Radio, Sky News Radio , and Radio Disney (in association with Disney ). Some of

4356-607: Was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television ( ITV and Channel 4 and limited satellite television regulation – cable television was the responsibility of the Cable Authority ) – and commercial and independent radio broadcasts. The IBA came into being when the Sound Broadcasting Act 1972 gave the Independent Television Authority responsibility for organising

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