Thompson Warns Of Possible Job Cuts At Channel 4
Channel 4 chief executive, Mark Thompson, has warned of job cuts at the channel as he laid down a manifesto for leaner, more imaginative organisation.
Speaking at an internal meeting earlier today, Thompson told staff that creating a more streamlined, less hierarchical Channel 4 would mean “employing fewer people.” He said: “If we don’t change the schedules the way we work, the structure of the organisation very radically indeed, we are not going to succeed.”
The announcement comes as FilmFour staff await news on the future of the production arm behind films such as Four Weddings And A Funeral and the recently released Birthday Girl. A board meeting is expected to place later today and according to a Channel 4 spokesman, options for the future of the business include taking on a commercial partner or bringing the company back within Channel 4’s core interests.
Thompson said that the next year would be a year of “transition” with some “striking changes in the schedule.” He told staff: “We want to build a schedule for growth, for audience growth but also talent growth – a schedule with more risk and more confidence.”
He also unveiled a restructuring of Channel 4’s commissioning team, which will reduce commissioning departments from 13 to eight and will integrate the E4 commissioning team with Channel 4′ s comedy and entertainment department.
Improved revenue forecasts mean that another £8m has been added to the 2002 programming budget. Thompson said that it would be spent on attracting younger viewers to the station.
Channel 4 recently denied claims that the future of FilmFour and its digital entertainment channel E4 could be threatened by the ITC’s decision to award the digital terrestrial licences made available following the collapse of ITV Digital to the BBC and BSkyB (see Channel 4 Denies Future Of Pay TV Channels In Doubt).
Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com
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