Channel 4 to be allowed to screen less news, current affairs and original programming subject to Ofcom consultation.
- Channel 4 wants to remove obligation to screen news at the weekend, a move Ofcom disagrees with
- But Ofcom minded to agree plans that will allow Channel 4 to make changes to daytime schedules
- Change to Channel 4 linear content to reflect new flexibilities created by new Media Bill.
The current Channel 4 licence will expire on 31st December 2024. As part of the process of renewing the Channel 4 licence, the broadcaster has requested changes to some of its existing licence obligations to support and its transition to being a “digital-first” broadcaster*.
Proposals that Ofcom now wants to take to consultation affect how Channel 4 plans to make changes to its daytime, or off-peak programmes.
This include plans to remove the condition to screen a lunchtime bulletin, a leftover from when Channel 4 screened a half-hour news at noon. Channel 4 also wants the flexibility to drop the number of current affairs programmes from no less than 208 hours per year to no less than 178 hours. But Channel 4 would still remain obliged to screen at least 80 hours of current affairs during prime time.
And Channel 4 also wants to reduce the current requirement that at least 56% of the hours of programmes included on the service in each year are originally produced or commissioned for the service. Under the proposal, this would be cut to 45% of hours per year. Quotas applying to prime time would be retained.
Channel 4 also wants to be able to drop its weekend news bulletins. But Ofcom has said it thinks the bulletins should stay.
Focus on primetime
Behind the changes are plans by Channel 4 to focus investment on its primetime schedule. It’s indicated to Ofcom that it plans to cut original programming at other times, with the possibility of filling schedules with acquisitions during the day. That means Channel 4’s daytime schedule could become similar to its breakfast schedule, which includes a number of US-imported programmes.
The move to refocus what’s on linear Channel 4 reflects an ongoing shift from traditional to online TV platforms.
Announcing the consultation on the planned changes, Ofcom said:
“The proposals on which we are consulting aim to strike a balance between allowing C4C greater flexibility in the future to develop its content and distribution strategy in support of its digital transformation, while continuing to safeguard its investment in distinctive UK content and protect delivery of the core elements of its linear output on Channel 4.”
Schools programmes!
One quirky requirement that looks set to remain on Channel 4’s broadcast licence at least in the short term is the requirement to screen 30 minutes of schools programmes …a year.
The quota is left over from when Channel 4 carried a schools programme block between 9:25 and 12:00 each morning. Given the big changes in broadcasting since then, with schools no longer reliant on broadcasters for educational material, it seems to odd to keep the requirement.
However, Ofcom can’t remove the requirement until legislative changes take place. The new Media Bill will make this change once it receives Royal Assent. At this point Channel 4 will no longer need to screen any schools programmes.
- The consultation is now available on the Ofcom website. It will remain open to responses until 14th February 2024.
*EXPLAINER | “Digital-first”: When broadcasters talk of digital-first they actually mean online-first. Essentially it means content becomes available on streaming or on-demand first or even exclusively online. Parts of the industry appear to have forgotten that all broadcasting is already digital. Digital-first originally meant that some programmes appeared on digital sister channels like E4 before the main terrestrial service, back when the main terrestrial service was still analogue.
Marc Thornham