Channel 4 to increase commissions from Nations-based indies & boost impact across the UK

Channel 4 has announced a range of measures to increase commissions from production companies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - including £35 million of ringfenced content spend - as part of its strategy to boost its impact across the UK.

The strategy to increase commissions from Nations-based indies forms part of Channel 4’s Nations and Regions strategy announced in October last year to deliver a package of measures focused on three core areas - skills, content, and people - to serve and reflect the whole of the UK.

Channel 4 aims to increase its commitment by one-third - from 9% to 12% of its main channel content spend and hours - in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales by 2028, as part of its new 10-year licence and two years ahead of the channel’s 2030 quota requirement set by Ofcom.  Channel 4 will commit to spending £10 million in 2026 and £25 million in 2027 with Nations’ based producers. 

The ring-fenced content budget forms a part of a Nations and Regions commissioning strategy which will be delivered by Jo Street, Channel 4’s Head of Lifestyle and Director of Commissioning, Nations and Regions.

The strategy will help maximise the creative potential of independent production companies outside of London, whilst acknowledging that Channel 4 must continue to operate within its means and in a sustainable way.

Jo Street said: “We’re determined to increase our commissions from producers in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland and this strategy will help deliver on that commitment.

“Great ideas surface when there are trusting and creative relationships between suppliers and commissioners. This plan aims to stimulate and encourage those conditions across the UK. By strengthening the relationship and understanding between our commissioning leads and production companies in the Nations, we’ll give producers a better insight into the priorities for each genre, a sharper focus on what really cuts through for us and ultimately a better chance to get their ideas commissioned.”

As part of the measures, each genre in Channel 4’s commissioning department has appointed a lead commissioning editor, one for each Nation, who will nurture stronger relationships with key suppliers in their designated Nation.

Genre Heads of Department will also draft three-year plans for each Nation and the English regions.

Starting this year, each Nation will be allotted an extra £100k of development funding - money which enables indies to fully explore and develop potential programme ideas - above and beyond any existing development budgets already in place.

And all new More4 commissions in 2025 and 2026 will be set aside for indies based in the Nations & English regions.

There will also be a key focus on dedicating more time, effort and investment to working collaboratively with Screen Agencies in the Nations and Regions.

Channel 4 has already met production companies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and will host a series of Open Days in coming months to provide more detail on how it will boost commissions from across the UK.

Ends

Notes to editors:

Channel 4 in the Nations & Regions

Previously published Annual Reports show that in 2023 Channel 4 commissioned £42m (11% of total commissions) worth of content from producers in the Nations (not Nations & Regions), £45m (nine per cent) worth of content in 2022 and £38m (nine per cent) of content in 2021.

Channel 4’s training and development programme, 4Skills, will play a key role in supporting the broadcast industry across the UK by identifying where it can support and further boost the careers of Nations and Regions based talent.

4Skills’s investment in supporting the broadcast industry has doubled to £10 million this year. This will support TV production roles, training and skills development across the UK, alongside the strengthened regional commissioning structure. 

At its heart is a new, two-year, £6 million career progression programme Accelerate that will fully fund progression roles, building skills and retaining production talent in the Nations and Regions. It will enable existing behind-the-camera talent in mid- and senior-level roles to gain experience and credits and to grow their careers in the cities where they live.

4Skills will also nurture the next generation of commissioning talent with the launch of an Assistant Commissioning Editor programme in Channel 4’s hub cities and Leeds. 

Channel 4 has also announced plans to further invest in skills support for independent production companies in the Nations and Regions. It will offer bespoke training to support leadership and strengthen business skills, fostering growth, diversification and resilience. 

Channel 4 has also reinformed its commitment to reach 600 roles in the Nations and Regions and will double the size of its Manchester office later this year.