Channel 4 Boosts PSB Output With Dispatches Investment
Channel 4 has reacted to recent criticism of its public service broadcasting content with a massive investment in its flagship peak-time politics and current affairs show, Dispatches.
The seven-figure financial boost will more than double the number of Dispatches programmes in Channel 4’s 2005 schedule, increasing its run from 12 programmes a year to 28. Twenty programmes will be broadcast at 8pm on Mondays, while the remaining eight will be reserved for undercover specials and will be shown in a midweek slot at 9pm.
The schedule re-think follows Ofcom’s recent review of public service broadcasting in the UK, which painted a damning picture of the content currently offered by terrestrial broadcasters. The watchdog made several recommendations for urgent remedies to the situation, including the need for more widely received PSB content, achievable by pushing programmes into more mainstream timeslots (see Ofcom Paints Bleak Picture Of Public Service Broadcasting).
In addition to a boosted Dispatches, Channel 4 has also announced the return of 30 Minutes next year, as well as an extended run for acclaimed international current affairs strand, Unreported World. The broadcaster has committed itself to screening more than two hours of peak-time current affairs content throughout 2005.
Excluding specials, the new line-up will increase Channel 4’s core current affairs hours in peak-time by over 25% next year, easily meeting Ofcom’s requirements for a clearer focus on PSB content. Dispatches regularly attracts an audience of between 1.5 million and 2 million, with its hour-long shows gaining notoriety for their revealing undercover reports and coverage from inaccessible countries such as Afghanistan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Kevin Lygo, director of television at Channel 4, said: “These extra hours will re-establish Dispatches as a regular weekly current affairs strand at the heart of the Channel 4 schedule. The success of some of our investigations this year, including our exposé of the postal service in Third Class Post, has shown that there’s an appetite amongst the Channel 4 audience for hard-hitting current affairs.”
Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4’s head of news and current affairs, added: “Dispatches has not softened its approach but has managed to maintain its reputation for original and challenging journalism in the heart of peak. The extra hours will give us even more room for ground-breaking investigations.”
Shortly before his departure from Channel 4 earlier this year, former chief executive Mark Thompson criticised ITV for neglecting its public service remit and attacked Ofcom for failing to bring the broadcaster to account. The former Channel 4 boss stated that ITV will not be able to support its current public service obligations and argued that, without intervention, “ITV would just have to be let off the hook” (see Thompson Attacks ITV For Neglecting Public Service Remit).
Thompson’s prediction now looks set to be realised, as Ofcom has issued proposals to ease some of ITV’s public service obligations, allowing it to concentrate on more revenue-generating commercial programming. The regulator claims that, given the levels of public service programming currently demanded of ITV, it would make little sense to continue them following the switch off of the analogue television signal in 2012 (see ITV Welcomes Ofcom’s Public Service Proposals).
Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com
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