Investment in creative content
Total investment in programmes and content across all Channel 4 services during the year was the highest ever at just under £625m. Programme investment in the core channel was also a record, at just under £537m.1
Specially commissioned programmes made up 76% of peak time hours and 64% of all hours on the core channel, well above the minimum licence requirements of 70% and 60% respectively.
Over a third (35%) of these programmes were commissioned from companies operating outside London, representing an investment of £124.9m in the UK's nations and regions.
During the year, Channel 4 worked with 312 independent production companies to provide programmes on the core channel.
Channel 4 showed more new titles between 6pm and midnight than any other broadcaster (over 350, according to Attentional data, compared with around 300 on BBC2, around 200 on BBC1, around 175 on ITV1, and around 125 on Five).
Support for emerging talent
Through 4Talent, new talent schemes and slots dedicated specifically to talent new to television made a significant contribution to innovation and diversity on Channel 4 - in 2007 and for the longer term - representing a total investment of around £10 million.
In 2007, Channel 4 ran regular strands dedicated to showcasing the work of new writing, performing and directing talent.
In factual: Three Minute Wonder, a peak-time slot following Channel 4 News for short films from new directors; First Cut, 15 half-hours in peak time on More4 for new documentary directors, with the opportunity for further exposure on the main channel; and New Shoots, 12 documentary slots and a training and support scheme for disabled directors.
In drama: Coming Up, a unique talent scheme for emerging film-makers to make an authored drama for guaranteed network broadcast; Film4 Productions' low-budget studio Warp X produced three films with new writers, director and actors; and the winning entry in the MyMovieMashup competition with MySpace to find new young directors went into production.
In entertainment and comedy: Comedy Lab and Funny Cuts both gave new writers and performers their first network TV exposure.
Delivering audience impact
In an extremely competitive environment, Channel 4's portfolio of channels and services grew its peak-time share to an all-time high of 11.9%. 2
Channel 4 News attracted a higher proportion of Black, Asian and ethnic minority viewers than any other peak-time terrestrial news programme: 15.2% of viewers were Black, Asian or ethnic minority, compared with 5.4% for all peak-time terrestrial news programmes together.3
1 Total investment was £624.2m (2006: £607.6m; 2005: £573.2m). Core channel programme expenditure was £536.5m (2006: £515.7m; 2005: £499.3m).
2 BARB/Infosys 2007. Individuals 4+. Peak defined as 1730-2400.
3 BARBBARB/Infosys 2007. Individuals 4+; C4 News includes +1; weekday news bulletins only; excludes guest viewing, not coded, refused to answer, and regional programme variations. The BARB definition of BAME audiences includes people from the following ethnic backgrounds: Black Caribbean, Black African, Black other, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, any other Asian, mixed race - Black Caribbean and white, mixed race - Black African and white, mixed race - Asian and white, mixed race - any other, and any other.
