Channel 4 is a UK public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the station is now owned and operated by the Channel Four Television Corporation, a public body established in 1990, coming into operation in 1993.
With the conversion of the Wenvoe transmitter to Digital on 31st March 2010, Channel 4 will become a national TV channel, after almost 28 years.
The channel was established to provide a fourth television service to the UK that would break the duopoly of the Licence Fee-funded BBC’s two established services and the single commercial broadcasting network, ITV.
Channel 4 enjoys almost universal coverage in the UK and some neighbouring countries and a significant audience share, despite having seen new competition with the growth of cable, satellite and digital services.
Channel 4 was established with, and continues to hold, a remit of public service obligations which it must fulfil. The remit changes periodically, as dictated by various broadcasting and communications acts, and is regulated by the various authorities Channel 4 has been answerable to; originally the IBA, then the ITC and now Ofcom.The preamble of the remit as per the Communications Act 2003 states that:
“The public service remit for Channel 4 is the provision of a broad range of high quality and diverse programming which, in particular: Demonstrates innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of programmes; Appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society; makes a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public service channels to include programmes of an Educational nature and other programmes of educative value; and exhibits a distinctive character.”
Website: www.channel4.com
Channel 4 HD
On 10 December 2007, Channel 4 launched a high definition television simulcast of Channel 4 on Sky+ HD, after British Sky Broadcasting agreed to contribute toward the channel’s satellite distribution costs. On 31 July 2009, Virgin Media added Channel 4 HD on channel 146 as a part of the M pack. On 25 March 2010 Channel 4 HD appeared on Freeview channel 52 with a placeholding caption, ahead of a commercial launch on 30 March 2010, coinciding with the commercial launch of Freeview HD.
On 19 April 2011, Channel 4 HD was added to Freesat on channel 126. As a consequence, the channel moved from being free-to-view to free-to-air on satellite during March 2011. The channel carries the same schedule as Channel 4, broadcasting programmes in HD when available. Initially this has been mostly American imports (such as Ugly Betty for example) and movies, however, original programming such as Hollyoaks and Skins have been broadcast in HD.
Although the intention is to increase the amount of “home grown” material being broadcast in HD. It has been announced as the UK’s first full-time high definition channel from a terrestrial broadcaster.
Channel 4 HD also became available on the platform on 19 April 2011, it was removed due to a carriage fee dispute with Freesat in 2018.
4Music
4Music is a free-to-air music television channel, it is the only Channel 4-branded channel within The Box Plus Network. Along with music programming, the channel also shows entertainment programmes as well as classic US drama to coincide with a change in the EPG numbers on Sky from 1 May 2018, moving from the music section into the entertainment section on Sky 139.
4Music launched on 15 August 2008 with the world premiere of Kylie’s X Tour and live coverage from V Festival. It features many high-profile faces from the T4 and 4Music family such as Alexa Chung, Nick Grimshaw, Miquita Oliver and Steve Jones, as well as presenter-led shows from contemporary artists such as Girls Aloud and Kaiser Chiefs.
4Music is available on Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media, it is no currently available on Freesat. 4Music is broadcast free-to-air on satellite (UK Spotbeam).
Website: www.4music.com
4Seven
4seven is a free-to-air television channel which launched on 4 July 2012 at 7.00 pm. According to Channel 4, it was created in response to its viewers demanding Channel 4 to broadcast old programming from the network.
The channel is available on all major TV platforms in the UK, Freeview, Freesat, Sky, and Virgin TV.
A high-definition simulcast, 4seven HD, is available on Freeview channel 110. 4Seven HD was added to Virgin Media in November 2016. The HD version is not available on Sky or Freesat.
Website: 4seven
E4
E4 is a British free-to-air television channel The “E” stands for entertainment, and the channel is mainly aimed at the 16–34 age group. Programming includes US imports such as The Goldbergs, The O.C., Smallville, Veronica Mars, Everwood, What About Brian, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, 90210, Gotham, Rules of Engagement, The Big Bang Theory, RuPaul’s Drag Race, 2 Broke Girls, Scream Queens, Revenge, and previously Friends (now on Channel 5). Other programming includes British shows such as Skins, Misfits, The Inbetweeners, Shameless, Hollyoaks, Coach Trip and Made in Chelsea.
E4 HD is also available to Sky HD viewers, the channel is a simulcast of the core E4 channel with a proportion of programmes produced and transmitted in the HD format.
E4 HD is currently available to subscribers of Sky HD and virgin Media, there are no confirmed plans to broadcast E4 HD on Freesat or Freeview HD.
Website: www.e4.com
Film4
Film4 is a free digital television channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, owned and operated by Channel 4, that screens films.
The channel frequently has themed nights or seasons in which a number of films centred around one genre, director or actor are shown.
As Channel 4 also owns a film production company, Film4 Productions, it shows many of its in-house productions. Occasional non-film (but film-related) programmes are also shown.
Wherever possible, films are shown in their correct aspect ratio. No digital on-screen graphics are superimposed. Under UK broadcasting rules, it was able to screen most films unedited and in earlier timeslots when it was a subscription channel, but these concessions were lost when it became free-to-air, and more adult material is now confined to after the 9pm watershed.
Film4 is available on Freeview and on the Astra 2D satellite free-to-air, it is along with the timeshift version, Film4+1 available on both the Sky and Freesat platforms. Film4 does not use Digital Onscreen Graphics (DOGs). Film4 operated a one-hour-timeshift channel, Film4 +1, on satellite, cable and Freeview.
Film4 HD
Film4 HD is available on Virgin Media’s cable television platform on channel 429, it is only available on certain packages. Film4 HD is also available on Sky, requiring customers to add the Sky HD upgrade to their subscription. Film 4 HD is not available on Freesat or Freeview.
Website: www.film4.com
More4
More4 is a digital television channel, run by British broadcaster Channel 4, that launched on 10 October 2005. It is carried on Freeview, on satellite broadcasters Freesat and Sky, UK IPTV broadcaster TalkTalk TV and on UK cable network Virgin Media and in the Republic of Ireland cable networks.
Lifestyle, documentaries and US drama, from brand new programmes to the best of Channel 4. On midweek days, it shows hour-long and feature-length documentaries including Channel 4’s Cutting Edge films.
On its first night, the channel led with the satirical docudrama A Very Social Secretary about the affair between David Blunkett, the former British Home Secretary, and Kimberly Quinn.
More4 is available on Sky and Virgin Media, it is not available on Freesat or Freeview.
