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PF
PFML84
Maybe E4 will switch to showing more of the older Channel 4 programming to fill up the slots. Actually, who are we kidding, they'll just increase the repeats of Big Bang Theory. More 4 will increase Come Dine/4 In A Bed type shows and 4 Music will continue to show anything but music programming.
JO
Jonwo
Channel 4's content budget for 2019 was £489m so that's a big drop.

I think Channel 4 will have to rethink how they operate going forward. Perhaps they could potentially set up an in-house production company that could get commissions from not just themselves but also other broadcaster.
OM
Omnipresent
I suspect C4 will have to look at either selling their London HQ (I think the plan was to sub-let it) or scaling back its regional expansion and cutting the number of regional "creative hubs".



JO
Jonwo
I suspect C4 will have to look at either selling their London HQ (I think the plan was to sub-let it) or scaling back its regional expansion and cutting the number of regional "creative hubs".





I honestly think Channel 4 selling off Horseferry Road or maybe selling it then leasing it back might be a good thing.
GO
gottago
Jonwo posted:
Channel 4's content budget for 2019 was £489m so that's a big drop.

I think Channel 4 will have to rethink how they operate going forward. Perhaps they could potentially set up an in-house production company that could get commissions from not just themselves but also other broadcaster.

There's definitely going to be a point very soon where they'll need their own IP to survive but they'll need to buy pre-existing, successful indies for that to happen. It would take them ages and cost a fortune to start from scratch. Luckily they have their indie development fund where they buy small shares of small indies to get them started so there's potential they could expand on that. Presumably there would need to be some sort of legal/charter/whatever change for C4 to be allowed to more than a publisher broadcaster.
BR
Brekkie
Just have to hope in six months time for all our sakes there is somewhat of a bounce back.
JO
Jonwo
Jonwo posted:
Channel 4's content budget for 2019 was £489m so that's a big drop.

I think Channel 4 will have to rethink how they operate going forward. Perhaps they could potentially set up an in-house production company that could get commissions from not just themselves but also other broadcaster.

There's definitely going to be a point very soon where they'll need their own IP to survive but they'll need to buy pre-existing, successful indies for that to happen. It would take them ages and cost a fortune to start from scratch. Luckily they have their indie development fund where they buy small shares of small indies to get them started so there's potential they could expand on that. Presumably there would need to be some sort of legal/charter/whatever change for C4 to be allowed to more than a publisher broadcaster.


Channel 5 has Viacom International Studios which originally was their in house arm so it's doable on a smaller scale, I don't think they'll be as aggressive as ITV Studios, maybe more on the lines of BBC Studios which has stakes in a few indies and wholly owns Lookout Point.
CW
Charlie Wells Moderator
Jonwo posted:
I think Channel 4 will have to rethink how they operate going forward. Perhaps they could potentially set up an in-house production company that could get commissions from not just themselves but also other broadcaster.

One of Channel 4's restrictions is that its model is a "publisher-broadcaster". I don't know if it's licence prevents it from moving away from this model to have in-house productions. Ref https://www.channel4.com/corporate/about-4/who-we-are/what-is-channel-4.
BR
Brekkie
Wasn't Right to Reply and originally T4 continuity produced in house?
JO
Jonwo
Wasn't Right to Reply and originally T4 continuity produced in house?


They also owned Ostrich Media which made Quiz Call, the participation channel which they later sold off.


Jonwo posted:
I think Channel 4 will have to rethink how they operate going forward. Perhaps they could potentially set up an in-house production company that could get commissions from not just themselves but also other broadcaster.

One of Channel 4's restrictions is that its model is a "publisher-broadcaster". I don't know if it's licence prevents it from moving away from this model to have in-house productions. Ref https://www.channel4.com/corporate/about-4/who-we-are/what-is-channel-4.


I wouldn't be surprised if there is a loophole to get round that much like how BBC Studios is a separate commercial entity from the BBC.
ST
steveboswell
Didn't there used to be a company called 124 Media? Creative? that was tangentially linked to Channel 4 (124 being their "house number" on Horseferry Road)? What was that?
BR
Brekkie
C4 used to run their commercial operations through 4Ventures - not sure if that still exists.

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