Channel 4 Annual Report

Annual Report20

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Contents:• CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

• DOING THINGS THE CHANNEL 4 WAY

• FILM & DRAMA

• SPOTLIGHT ON E4

• COMEDY

• NEWS

• FACTUAL

• AWARDS

• FINANCIAL

CHANNEL4 ANNUAL REPORT ‘12 //

A KEY PART OF OUR VISION IS THAT BOLD

COMMERCIAL DECISIONS WILL ACCOMPANY

ADVENTUROUS CREATIVE INITIATIVES.

COMMERCIALLY WE ARE IN A STRONG POSITION TO

COPE WITH DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES AROUND

US.

CEO / DAVID ABRAHAM

Of all television audiences: 16–34 year

olds. Despite an increasingly competitive

market for young people’s attention,

2010 was a record-breaking year for

E4. Despite an increasingly competitive

market for young people’s attention, 2010

was a record-breaking year for. Despite

an increasingly competitive market for

young people’s attention, 2010 was a

record-breaking year for, attention, 2010

was a record-breaking year for. Despite

an increasingly competitive market for

young people’s attention, 2010 was a

record-breaking year for. Despite an

increasingly competitive market for young

people’s attention, 2010 was a record-

breaking year for, attention, 2010 was

a record-breaking year for. Despite an

increasingly competitive market for young

people’s attention, 2010 was a record-

breaking year for. Despite an increasingly

competitive market for.

E4 plays an important commercial and

creative role within Channel 4’s portfolio.

It is the home of some of our most exciting

new comedy and drama, and is a

favourite with the most elusive and fickle

of all television audiences: 16–34 year

olds. Despite an increasingly competitive

market for young people’s attention,

2010 was a record-breaking year for

E4. Despite an increasingly competitive

market for young people’s attention, 2010

was a record-breaking year for. Despite

an increasingly competitive market for

young people’s attention, 2010 was a

record-breaking year for, attention, 2010

was a record-breaking year for. Despite

an increasingly competitive market for

young people’s attention, 2010 was a

record-breaking year for. Despite an

increasingly competitive market for young

people’s attention, 2010 was a record-

breaking year for, attention, 2010 was

a record-breaking year for. Despite an

increasingly competitive market for young

people’s attention, 2010 was a record-

breaking year for. Despite an increasingly

competitive market for.

2012 WAS FULL OF THE THRILL OF EXPERIMENTATION. IT

IS STRIKING AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS REPORT HOW

MUCH OF THE PROGRAMMING CAUGHT THE NATIONAL

MOOD, SPARKED DEBATE AND HAD REAL IMPACT.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT //

CHANNEL4

// DOING THINGS THE CHANNEL 4 WAY

CHANNEL 4 HAS RE-EMBRACED

ITS FOUNDING REMIT TO ‘FOSTER

THE NEW AND EXPERIMENTAL.

way

Doing things the

HOMELANDThe series has received critical acclaim, as

well as several industry awards, including

winning the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for

Outstanding Drama Series, the 2011 and 2012

Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series

– Drama, and the Primetime Emmy Award

for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

Series and Lead Actress in a Drama Series for

Damian Lewis and Claire Danes respectively.

CHANNEL 4 HAS A DEEP AND LONG-STANDING

COMMITMENT TO CREATIVE DIVERSITY – IDENTIFYING

AND NURTURING TALENT, CELEBRATING DIFFERENCE,

AND ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE AND IDEAS THAT ARE

OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM.

In 2011 we set ourselves the goal of working

with more new and emerging talent from a

more diverse pool than ever before. We did

this not to tick the necessary boxes or reach

quotas, but because we want the most

original and thought-provoking ideas, with

the broadest range of voices; and because,

as contemporary Britain grapples with the

complexities of social change, exploring and

understanding difference matters.

INVESTMENT IN

FIRST-RUN EXTERNAL

UK COMMISSIONS

ON THE MAIN

CHANNEL IN 2012

£370m

Channel 4 has a critical role in the creative

economy. In 2011, it invested £370 million in

programmes commissioned from external

suppliers on the main channel, a significant

rise of 15% on 2010. And Channel 4 spent

more on the external production sector

than any other commercially-funded public

service broadcaster in 2010 (the latest

available data).

In all, 276 television production companies

supplied programming transmitted across

the portfolio in 2011 (in line with 2010) and

we commissioned content from 150 digital

media suppliers (up from 91 in 2010). 261

of the TV companies were independent

producers – a slight decline on 2012,

reflecting continued consolidation in the

sector.

DIVERSITY OF SUPPLY

BB

C

PO

RTF

OLI

O

ITV

CH

AN

NEL

4

CH

AN

NEL

5

OTH

ER

Number of independent

production companies supplying

UK broadcasters

305 /276

74 /83

265 /293

56 /78

58 /30

2011

2012

FILM APPRECIATIONOn television and online, Channel 4 showcased films audiences rarely

get a chance to see. The Film4 channel had its best ever year, with

audience share at a record high. It continued to bring audiences

the best of British and international cinema through dedicated

seasons and premieres – with non-US content accounting for 40% of

the channel’s output. Mark Cousins’ landmark 15-part More4 series

The Story of Film: An Odyssey gave film fans a world-wide tour of the

greatest movies ever made.

To complement the series, Film4 screened some of the little-known

films featured, from the silent Orphans of the Storm through to

complement the series,major contemporary work such as the

Romanian film The Death of Mr Lazarescu. Elsewhere, Film4.com

featured reviews of the latest releases alongside exclusive interviews

with film-makers, and Mr Lazarescu. Elsewhere, Film4.com featured

reviews of the latest releases alongside exclusive interviews with film-

makers, and on-on- demand service.

// FILM & DRAMA

DIVERSITY OF FILM4 CHANNEL SCHEDULEAlongside popular American movies, the

Film4 channel continues to showcase a

diverse range of films from the UK and

around the world. British films made up

25% of the Film4 channel schedule in 2011

(as in 2010). These and other non-US titles

accounted for 40% of the output overall, up

1 percentage point year-on-year.

OF OUTPUT ON THE FILM4 CHANNEL

DEVOTED TO BRITISH, OTHER EUROPEAN AND

INTERNATIONAL FILMS

40%1PT RISE ON LAST YEAR.

FIL

M2012 AMBITIONS:• INCREASE FILM AND DRAMA INVESTMENT

• CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE NEW FILMMAKERS

• FIND DISTINCTIVE STORIES – BOTH REFLECTIVE &

COMIC – THAT WILL RESONATE WITH THE UK AND

WORLDWIDE AUDIENCES.

• USE DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO ENHANCE THE

VIEWER EXPERIENCE.

£233m

ALONGSIDE POPULAR AMERICAN

MOVIES, THE FILM4 CHANNEL

CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE A DIVERSE

RANGE OF FILMS FROM THE UK AND

AROUND THE WORLD. BRITISH FILMS

MADE UP 25% OF THE FILM4 CHANNEL

SCHEDULE IN 2011 (AS IN 2010).

THESE AND OTHER NON-US TITLES

ACCOUNTED FOR 40% OF THE OUTPUT

OVERALL, UP 1 PERCENTAGE POINT

YEAR-ON-YEAR.

This is England ’86

FILM AND DRAMA SPEND

ON ORIGINATIONS AND

ACQUISITIONS BROADCAST

IN 2012

1PT RISE ON LAST YEAR.

// FILM & DRAMA

BB

C

PO

RTF

OLI

O

ITV

CH

AN

NEL

4

CH

AN

NEL

5

OTH

ER

305 /276

74 /83

265 /293

56 /78

58 /30

2011

2012

TO FIND OUT WHAT FILMS ARE AVAILABLE TO

YOU, JUST CLICK HERE & YOU CAN HAVE AN

ARRAY OF DIFFERENT FILMS TO RENT AND

WATCH.

WATCH FILM4oD NOW!

Channel 4 has a critical role in the creative

economy. In 2011, it invested £370 million in

programmes commissioned from external

suppliers on the main channel, a significant

rise of 15% on 2010. And Channel 4 spent

more on the external production sector

than any other commercially-funded public

service broadcaster in 2010 (the latest

available data).

In all, 276 television production companies

supplied programming transmitted across

the portfolio in 2011 (in line with 2010) and

we commissioned content from 150 digital

media suppliers (up from 91 in 2010). 261

of the TV companies were independent

producers – a slight decline on 2012,

reflecting continued consolidation in the

sector.

RETURNING AUDIENCES

Number of independent

production companies supplying

UK broadcasters

Following the success of the Oscar-

nominated Happy-Go-Lucky, Film4

continued its long relationship with director

Mike Leigh with Another Year, a film touching

on the universal themes of family, friendship

and ageing. Premiered in the UK at the

London Film Festival, it won great critical

acclaim - nominated for the Palme D’Or in

In all, 276 television production companies

supplied programming transmitted across

the portfolio in 2011 (in line with 2010) and

we commissioned content from 150 digital

media suppliers (up from 91 in 2010). 261

of the TV companies were independent

producers – a slight decline on 2012,

reflecting continued consolidation in the

ANOTHER YEAR

INVESTED IN FEATURE

FI;M PRODUCTION &

DEVELOPMENT IN 2012.

£11.6m

4

Spotlight on:E4 PLAYS AN IMPORTANT

COMMERCIAL AND CREATIVE ROLE

WITHIN CHANNEL 4’S PORTFOLIO. IT IS

THE HOME OF SOME OF

E4 HAS BEEN A TRAIL-BLAZER...

CONSISTENTLY ENTERTAINING,

DARING & DIFFERENT.

.When E4 launched in 2001, Channel 4

became the first terrestrial broadcaster with

a digital entertainment channel targeted

at younger viewers. It quickly became an

essential and much-loved part of what

audiences expected from Channel 4.

Unsurprisingly, others looked to copy the

formula so, in 2005, E4 moved on again,

becoming available without the need to

pay a subscription and with significant new

investment and a 24-hour schedule which

includes a major commitment to new music.

The result has been to make it the strongest

performing channel in its class, beating Sky

1, ITV2, BBC3 and Living TV, amongst others.

By the end of the year it had the biggest 16-

34 year-old audience of any non-terrestrial

channel on British TV. Does that matter?

Yes, because in an increasingly competitive

environment dominated by a handful of

media giants, a genuinely independent

public service broadcaster like Channel 4

will only grow if it continues to find new ways

of attracting new audiences. By the end of

the year it had the biggest 16-34 year-old

audience of any non-terrestrial channel on

British TV. Does that matter? Yes, because

in an increasingly competitive environment

dominated by a handful of media giants,

a genuinely independent public service

broadcaster like Channel 4 will only grow if it

continues to find new ways of attracting new

audiences.

SPOTLIGHT ON E4 //

When E4 launched in 2001, Channel 4

became the first terrestrial broadcaster with

a digital entertainment channel targeted

at younger viewers. It quickly became an

essential and much-loved part of what

audiences expected from Channel 4.

Unsurprisingly, others looked to copy the

formula so, in 2005, E4 moved on again,

becoming available without the need to

pay a subscription and with significant new

investment and a 24-hour schedule which

includes a major commitment to new music.

The result has been to make it the strongest

performing channel in its class, beating Sky

1, ITV2, BBC3 and Living TV, amongst others.

By the end of the year it had the biggest 16-

34 year-old audience of any non-terrestrial

channel on British TV. Does that matter?

Yes, because in an increasingly competitive

environment dominated by a handful of

media giants, a genuinely independent

public service broadcaster like Channel 4 will

only grow if it continues to find new ways of

attracting new audiences.

E4 is the digital channel 16-34 year olds feel closest to.

VIEWING SHARE FOR E4 AMONGST

16–34 YEAR OLDS

4.4%

4

TO CATCH UP WITH ALL OF YOUR FAVOURITE

SHOWS, INCLUDING THE FULL SERIES OF

SKINS JUST CLICK HERE & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR

YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE YOU CAN WATCH

PROGRAMMES ON DEMAND.

SUBSCRIBE!!

BBC ONE - 14.4

CHANNEL 4 - 9.2

ITV 1 - 13.5

E4 - 4.4

BBC2 - 4.5

FIVE - 3.8

BBC3 - 2.3

DAVE - 1.9

ITV2 - 2.8

MOST POPULAR CHANNELS FOR YOUNG VIEWERS

Viewing share for the top 10 channels

amongst 16–34 year olds as a percentage of

total viewing by this age group

1PT RISE ON LAST

YEAR.

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THE INBETWEENERS

MISFITS

SKINS

WHEN E4 LAUNCHED IN 2001,

CHANNEL 4 BECAME THE FIRST

TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTER WITH A

DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CHANNEL

TARGETED AT YOUNGER VIEWERS.

IT QUICKLY BECAME AN ESSENTIAL

AND MUCH-LOVED PART OF WHAT

AUDIENCES EXPECTED FROM

CHANNEL 4.

CHANNEL 4 HAS RE-EMBRACED

ITS FOUNDING REMIT TO ‘FOSTER

THE NEW AND EXPERIMENTAL.The Independent on Street Summer