Channel 4 Statement Of Intent To Continue Innovation And Quality
Channel 4 has promised to “encourage a younger generation in the values of public service broadcasting” with its programming priorities for 2001/2002. Commenting on the statement of intent his channel submitted to the Independent Television Commission (ITC) this week, director of programmes Tim Gardam commented, “Too often regulation has become an arid calculation of the number of different programme categories. Self regulation ought to set out the standards by which we are judged.”
BARB figures show that each week around 45% of Channel 4’s top five rating programmes are light entertainment. However, this category is greatly boosted by the long running teatime quiz Countdown, which is not known for its younger generation audiences. A more successful category for attracting younger audiences is comedy, which makes up just under 20% of top rating programmes, including as it does US imports Friends and Frasier and home produced hit Ali G.
Channel 4 is to continue its investment in comedy in the coming year, with the development of two new sitcoms and a new comedy drama. It has said that digital entertainment channel E4 and E4.com will continue to act as a “test bed” for new entertainment shows which can then transfer to the main channel.
Despite the fact that populist factual offerings such as Big Brother have been big ratings winners in the past year, the Channel appears intent on sticking to its “benchmark for quality and innovation” remit. To this end, the entire canon of plays by Samuel Beckett is to be screened, as well as landmark authored series by Darcus Howe and Jon Ronson.
In terms of audience size, sport remains a fairly minor concern at the channel. However, having defied the critics by making a success of its cricket coverage takeover, the channel is now set to invest £2m in grass root cricket initiatives in the community and grow its audiences. Negotiations continue for its planned digital horse racing coverage.
Channel 4: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com
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