Channel 4 statement re Ofcom PSB Review

Channel 4 Chief Executive Andy Duncan said: "In its report Ofcom accepts that Channel 4 is critical to ensuring future public service competition to the BBC. It agrees we have a minimum annual funding gap of up to £100 million, excluding our Next on 4 ambitions.

"Ofcom's outstanding priority is to decide and implement a new funding mechanism for Channel 4 - we are pleased this report identifies a number of viable routes towards achieving that. This needs to be agreed urgently if we are to avoid making further damaging cuts to our public service activities."

Note to Editors

• Channel 4 announced on Tuesday (23rd September) that it was implementing a fresh efficiency drive to reduce its cost base by £100 million across 2008 and 2009.
• This includes a proposal to cut programme spend in 2008 by more than £25 million and headcount by up to 150 posts in 2009.