A publisher-broadcaster

Channel 4 is unique among public service broadcasters in having a publisher-broadcaster model. Unlike others, everything we air is commissioned from external production companies. 

Alongside our not-for-profit model, this means that all of Channel 4’s revenues are invested back into content, going straight into the creative economy and supporting the independent production sector – and all at no cost to the taxpayer.

Since its launch, Channel 4 has invested £13bn in content, with £501m spent on UK-originated programming in 2016. Each year, we work with more than 315 production companies across TV, digital and film, accounting for 36% of all public service broadcasters’ spending on UK independent production. In doing so, we commission from more TV production companies than BBC One, BBC Two, ITV or Channel 5.

Read more about our business model.

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