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.