C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes (/showthread.php?tid=457)

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Brekkie - 16-09-2023

On the commissioning note reports this week C4 is set to lift it's commissioning freeze in the weeks ahead.

BECTU though believe industry wide issues mean 75% of freelancers are out of work whilst the rush to build studios when production was booming now sees vast complexes struggling to fill their space - and the US strikes aren't helping either with many US studios bankrolling the ventures.

Whether it's a post-pandemic correction remains to be seen - I think the hope is that is the case rather than a terminal decline.

Does seem though perhaps C4's own woes have been exaggerated somewhat and they were possibly just a bit more honest about the industry wide issues following a bit of stock piling post-covid and the subsequent advertising downturn.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/15/britain-tv-and-film-industry-decline 

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Stooky Bill - 16-09-2023

Let's hope so. The big problem Channel 4 has is that it's almost entirety reliant on ad revenue, unlike the other big broadcasters who make and can build up and sell formats and programmes.

One of the ideas for Channel 4 from one of the recent governments/Culture secretaries was to let it make stuff, i don't know what happened to that

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Spencer - 16-09-2023

(16-09-2023, 06:17 PM)Stooky Bill Wrote:  Let's hope so. The big problem Channel 4 has is  that it's almost entirety reliant on ad revenue, unlike the other big broadcasters who make and can build up and sell formats and programmes.

One of the ideas for Channel 4 from one of the recent governments/Culture secretaries was to let it make stuff, i don't know what happened to that

Wasn’t that part of Nadine Dorries’ plan to privatise it?

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Stooky Bill - 17-09-2023

(16-09-2023, 08:02 PM)Spencer Wrote:  Wasn’t that part of Nadine Dorries’ plan to privatise it?

There's been so many culture secretaries and so many ideas I've lost track. Managed to find it though, it was under Michelle Donehan in Jan 2023. Decision was not to privatise but allow it to make programmes. It'll be part of the Media Bill whenever that happens. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/channel-4-to-remain-publicly-owned-with-reforms-to-boost-its-sustainability-and-commercial-freedom 

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - tellyblues - 26-09-2023

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/indies-frustrated-as-c4-sets-commissioning-sights-on-2025/5186269.article 

Indies have a right to feel cheesed off but they need to hold some accountability for the shows that have failed. Not sure how C4 are going to get out of this - the types of shows elsewhere which are holding firm and "doing well" in the ratings aren't cheap, not in C4's remit and it isn't C4's role to copy everyone else. Pushing poor me candidates into the frame isn't going to help either.

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Dadeki - 08-01-2024

Bumping the thread to post a link to this exclusive Guardian article. The Guardian is reporting that Channel 4 is apparently making plans to cut as many as 200 jobs in what the newspaper is describing as its 'biggest round of layoffs in more than 15 years'. This is in an attempt to make savings following what has been a significant downturn in television advertising, which is considered to be at its worst since the 2008 financial crash. Channel 4 will use this as an opportunity to focus on its 'digital streaming strategy'.

More here: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/jan/07/channel-4-plans-deepest-job-cuts-in-over-15-years-after-tv-ad-slump 

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - Josh - 10-01-2024

The new series of First Dates has been pulled for unknown "editorial reasons".

https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/c4-firstdates-s21schedule 

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - IanJRedman - 10-01-2024

(10-01-2024, 02:58 PM)Josh Wrote:  The new series of First Dates has been pulled for unknown "editorial reasons".

https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/c4-firstdates-s21schedule 

Well that's odd. Made me wonder if something has happened (or come to light) with a participant, but if that's the case, why does it affect multiple episodes?

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - tellyblues - 10-01-2024

It could be someone who features in multiple episodes.

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RE: C4 Programme Commissioning Woes - gottago - 11-01-2024

(10-01-2024, 03:02 PM)IanJRedman Wrote:  Well that's odd. Made me wonder if something has happened (or come to light) with a participant, but if that's the case, why does it affect multiple episodes?

A participant who features in the opening series highlights sequence that’s repeated at the start of every episode I would’ve thought.

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