Channel 4 wants the British television industry to know: the dark days are over.
The 40-year-old British broadcaster has endured one of the most grueling periods in its history after a dramatic collapse in the advertising market brutally exposed its business model.
Content was axed or postponed, more than 200 employees were made redundant and Channel 4’s fundamental relationship with British producers was tested to the limit.
But as the sun rises on the 2024 Edinburgh TV Festival, Channel 4 Chief Content Officer Ian Katz seeks to reassure the industry that better days lie ahead.
Katz hosted a dinner for talent and journalists on Tuesday evening and told the audience that the advertising market is “coming back to life” and that the picture is “much clearer.”
The former News night The editor was not specific about the extent of the advertising recovery, but his message is welcome for the British television world.
If Channel 4 sees the green shoots of recovery, other broadcasters are likely to lean towards similar green signs of hope, after some concern that the advertising market was permanently stuck in the mud.
Katz told the Edinburgh TV Festival dinner that Channel 4’s commissioning patterns are now similar to those of 2019, when the broadcaster spent £660 million ($859 million) on production.
Katz, who has been on something of a charm offensive with producers and press in recent months, acknowledged that Channel 4’s moves to cut costs are clearly being felt.
Channel 4 commissions all original content from independent producers, many of whom are furious with the broadcaster and calling for regime change.
This noise has subsided recently and Katz pointed out bright spots in the schedule, including The piano (“one of the country’s most loved shows”) and a “sparkling” election night, co-hosted by Emily Maitlis. Katz even joked that he was an “elderly TV executive having a bad summer.”
During the dinner, Katz presented a number of upcoming shows, including a preview of Ben Wheatley’s zombie series Generation Zstarring Downton Abbey Sue Johnston, who was in the room.
“Generation Z is a dark and comic thriller about old zombies who haunt young people. And no, that’s not a commentary on Channel 4’s commissioning strategy,” Katz joked.
In other news, Channel 4 has announced it will broadcast live ABC News’ US election debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on September 10. Matt Frei will host.
Like Harris’ message of hope at the Democratic National Convention, Channel 4 hopes the upbeat atmosphere it brings to the Edinburgh TV Festival resonates with delegates.
