Public service media

Public service media has never been more culturally or economically important

The UK’s public service media ecology plays a vital role in British public life, supporting democratic values and culture, promoting social cohesion and strengthening a shared national identity.

Channel 4 was created to be a disruptive, innovative force in UK broadcasting.  Publicly owned yet entirely commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at zero cost to the taxpayer.

Our purpose is to create change through entertainment by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose, and reinventing entertainment.

Channel 4 stands out in the media landscape by offering groundbreaking and distinctive British content across all of its genres. Our bold and distinctive programmes, journalism, and films disrupt the norm, spark important conversations, and project British talent, cultural diversity, and soft power globally.

Channel 4 plays a crucial role in the success of the UK’s world-leading creative industries, investing in and stimulating the production sector across the whole of the UK, and pioneering innovation in digital. Under our ambitious Fast Forward strategy, we are accelerating our transformation into a genuinely digital-first public service streamer.