Channel 4, a publicly owned broadcaster, is set to let 200 employees go as well as vacate its Victoria-based offices.
Here’s a depressing news story for your Monday afternoon.
Channel 4 is cutting 200 jobs, as reported here by The Guardian. That represents about 15 percent of its 1300-strong workforce, making this a huge shift.
One of the reasons behind the mass layoffs is what’s being described as “the worst TV advertising downturn since 2008.”
The success of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ has completely changed the advertising world, and Channel 4 is clearly feeling the effects. Earlier this month, it was reported that Channel 4 was looking to cut its £108 million annual wage bill drastically.
On top of those 200 employees being let go, the broadcaster is looking to close 40 unfilled roles as well as merge commissioning departments.
Channel 4 has been focusing on moving its workforce outside of London, and is thus selling its Victoria-based offices.
Here’s a depressing news story for your Monday afternoon.
Channel 4 is cutting 200 jobs, as reported here by The Guardian. That represents about 15 percent of its 1300-strong workforce, making this a huge shift.
One of the reasons behind the mass layoffs is what’s being described as “the worst TV advertising downturn since 2008.”
The success of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ has completely changed the advertising world, and Channel 4 is clearly feeling the effects. Earlier this month, it was reported that Channel 4 was looking to cut its £108 million annual wage bill drastically.
On top of those 200 employees being let go, the broadcaster is looking to close 40 unfilled roles as well as merge commissioning departments.
Channel 4 has been focusing on moving its workforce outside of London, and is thus selling its Victoria-based offices.
- 1/29/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
It’s been a big week for British broadcasting cancelations.
Channel 4 has axed daily daytime show Steph’s Packed Lunch just a day after the BBC revealed it was culling Doctors, one of its longest-running drama series.
Steph’s Packed Lunch has been running since the early days of the Covid-19 era and will end later this year, with those who work on the show told earlier today.
In an all-staff email from Ian Katz, seen by Deadline, the Chief Content Officer said it had been a “difficult decision” but “with audience habits changing faster than ever we need to focus our resources more rigorously on driving streaming, and prioritise programmes that drive digital growth wherever we can.”
Produced by Expectation and Can Can Productions, Steph’s Packed Lunch aired weekdays from Leeds and featured celebrity guests and topical discussions. It kicked off in the Covid era after Channel 4 decided it wanted...
Channel 4 has axed daily daytime show Steph’s Packed Lunch just a day after the BBC revealed it was culling Doctors, one of its longest-running drama series.
Steph’s Packed Lunch has been running since the early days of the Covid-19 era and will end later this year, with those who work on the show told earlier today.
In an all-staff email from Ian Katz, seen by Deadline, the Chief Content Officer said it had been a “difficult decision” but “with audience habits changing faster than ever we need to focus our resources more rigorously on driving streaming, and prioritise programmes that drive digital growth wherever we can.”
Produced by Expectation and Can Can Productions, Steph’s Packed Lunch aired weekdays from Leeds and featured celebrity guests and topical discussions. It kicked off in the Covid era after Channel 4 decided it wanted...
- 10/19/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Channel 4’s Ian Katz has become the first broadcasting boss to acknowledge the UK commissioning slowdown, which led Bectu to yesterday declare an “emergency” in the freelance TV community.
Katz told the Wales Screen Summit Channel 4 is “watching to see how the market plays out,” while he is speaking to indies about the “freelancer situation.”
The cost-of-living crisis has been causing a well-publicized slowdown in the advertising market and Katz noted this could decline by 10% to 20% over the coming months, with ITV last week issuing a trading update showing a 10% dip in Q1.
Channel 4 is helped by the fact that “we came out of Covid and commissioned quite fast, quite intentionally because the cupboards were very empty,” according to Katz, who said “we are well stocked [with shows] into this year and the first half of next year.”
Compounding the current freelancer situation, last year saw a post-Covid commissioning boom, with...
Katz told the Wales Screen Summit Channel 4 is “watching to see how the market plays out,” while he is speaking to indies about the “freelancer situation.”
The cost-of-living crisis has been causing a well-publicized slowdown in the advertising market and Katz noted this could decline by 10% to 20% over the coming months, with ITV last week issuing a trading update showing a 10% dip in Q1.
Channel 4 is helped by the fact that “we came out of Covid and commissioned quite fast, quite intentionally because the cupboards were very empty,” according to Katz, who said “we are well stocked [with shows] into this year and the first half of next year.”
Compounding the current freelancer situation, last year saw a post-Covid commissioning boom, with...
- 5/17/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
When it was announced yesterday that Frankie Boyle’s BBC series New World Order had been cancelled, the comedian’s reaction was frank but restrained. “Not surprising in the current climate, I suppose,” he told fans on Twitter, many of whom had followed his superb topical panel show devotedly for the five years it was on the air. Boyle didn’t elaborate on what he meant by the words “current climate”, but it doesn’t take too many imaginative leaps to hazard a guess. New World Order was one of the few shows on TV that was sincerely and unapologetically left-wing. And politically speaking, the BBC is in the midst of a full-fledged climate crisis.
It’s not good for optics that New World Order’s cancellation comes just weeks after the BBC was embroiled in an impartiality row with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker. The dispute – prompted...
It’s not good for optics that New World Order’s cancellation comes just weeks after the BBC was embroiled in an impartiality row with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker. The dispute – prompted...
- 3/24/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - TV
News that doctors were “concerned” about Queen Elizabeth II’s health on Thursday lunchtime threw long-planned U.K. broadcast schedules into disarray almost immediately – and the disruptions will likely continue for weeks.
The statement from Buckingham Palace, issued at 12.30pm local time, was unprecedented and experienced broadcasters immediately realized the situation was serious. U.K. Parliament had been informed about 10 minutes earlier, with Prime Minister Liz Truss and leader of the opposition Keir Starmer discreetly passed notes detailing the situation in the House of Commons.
BBC One was the first network to break programming some 10 minutes after the statement was published. An episode of “Bargain Hunt” – a long-running series which sees two teams competing to cheaply source antiques and flip them for a profit – was interrupted by BBC newsreader Joanna Gosling, who said: “Welcome to viewers on BBC One. We have had news from Buckingham Palace that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral.
The statement from Buckingham Palace, issued at 12.30pm local time, was unprecedented and experienced broadcasters immediately realized the situation was serious. U.K. Parliament had been informed about 10 minutes earlier, with Prime Minister Liz Truss and leader of the opposition Keir Starmer discreetly passed notes detailing the situation in the House of Commons.
BBC One was the first network to break programming some 10 minutes after the statement was published. An episode of “Bargain Hunt” – a long-running series which sees two teams competing to cheaply source antiques and flip them for a profit – was interrupted by BBC newsreader Joanna Gosling, who said: “Welcome to viewers on BBC One. We have had news from Buckingham Palace that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral.
- 9/9/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Celebrites are sending well-wishes to the Queen amid escalating concerns surrounding her health.
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday (8 September) that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral.
It was then revealed that family members, including Princes Charles, William and Harry, had cancelled engagements to be with her.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen‘s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” a Palace spokesperson said, adding: “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
In response to the news, which comes three months after the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations. figures from the world of television are rushing to wish the Queen a speedy recovery.
“No one more likely to be so loved, admired and respected than Her Majesty The Queen and although she cannot be immortal, I think we have always hoped she might be,” Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid said.
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday (8 September) that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral.
It was then revealed that family members, including Princes Charles, William and Harry, had cancelled engagements to be with her.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen‘s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” a Palace spokesperson said, adding: “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
In response to the news, which comes three months after the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations. figures from the world of television are rushing to wish the Queen a speedy recovery.
“No one more likely to be so loved, admired and respected than Her Majesty The Queen and although she cannot be immortal, I think we have always hoped she might be,” Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid said.
- 9/8/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Celebrites are sending well-wishes to the Queen amid escalating concerns surrounding her health.
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday (8 September) that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral.
It was then revealed that family members, including Princes Charles, William and Harry, had cancelled engagements to be with her.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen‘s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” a Palace spokesperson said, adding: “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
In response to the news, which comes three months after the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations. figures from the world of television are rushing to wish the Queen a speedy recovery.
“No one more likely to be so loved, admired and respected than Her Majesty The Queen and although she cannot be immortal, I think we have always hoped she might be,” Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid said.
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday (8 September) that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral.
It was then revealed that family members, including Princes Charles, William and Harry, had cancelled engagements to be with her.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen‘s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” a Palace spokesperson said, adding: “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
In response to the news, which comes three months after the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations. figures from the world of television are rushing to wish the Queen a speedy recovery.
“No one more likely to be so loved, admired and respected than Her Majesty The Queen and although she cannot be immortal, I think we have always hoped she might be,” Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid said.
- 9/8/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
British television stars are preparing for the biggest night on the calendar, with one title a firm favourite going into this evening’s BAFTA TV Awards.
Channel 4’s drama It’s a Sin, a drama about a group of young people facing the Aids crisis of the 1980s, is the firm frontrunner with 11 nominations including five acting nods.
See the full list of BAFTA TV Awards nominations below
The mini-series, created by former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, became Channel 4’s most successful ever drama when it was broadcast last year. Davies is also recognised in the Best Writer category this evening.
The international category is strong, with two global hits Succession (HBO) and Squid Game (Netflix) up against Call My Agent! and Lupin (both Netflix), Mare of Easttown (HBO) and The Underground Railroad (Amazon).
Other nominees include Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), while Boiling...
Channel 4’s drama It’s a Sin, a drama about a group of young people facing the Aids crisis of the 1980s, is the firm frontrunner with 11 nominations including five acting nods.
See the full list of BAFTA TV Awards nominations below
The mini-series, created by former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, became Channel 4’s most successful ever drama when it was broadcast last year. Davies is also recognised in the Best Writer category this evening.
The international category is strong, with two global hits Succession (HBO) and Squid Game (Netflix) up against Call My Agent! and Lupin (both Netflix), Mare of Easttown (HBO) and The Underground Railroad (Amazon).
Other nominees include Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), while Boiling...
- 5/8/2022
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
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