C4 Claims Successful Year

Channel 4 is claiming 1997 a successful year in its annual report, with a 6.6% increase in turnover to £552.7 million. Advertising and sponsorship revenue grew by 4.7% to £513.4 million against an estimated growth of 1.5% at ITV. Audience share, however, fell slightly, from 10.7% to 10.6%.

Channel 4 also confirmed that it intends to launch a subscription film channel and free to air education programming services as part of its digital terrestrial TV plans.

These services are planned to cost C4 over £30m in 1999, which will be largely financed by the termination of the “funding formula” (see C4 Funding Formula To End).

C4: 0171 396 4444