Gen Z favourite Channel4.com becomes made-for-streaming destination under new Fast Forward strategy

14 May 2024

• Channel4.com refreshed to become more accessible and programming-led
• All Channel 4 streamers set to benefit from more personalised experience, plus more box sets, first-looks and bingeable, talkable content
• Changes to Channel 4 streaming will enhance offering for Gen Z viewers

From today, Channel4.com brings an ‘app-like’ Channel 4 streaming experience to mobiles, tablets, laptops and other connected devices, as it becomes the world’s first public service streamer.

The upgrades reflect Gen Z’s growing desire to watch Channel 4 on multiple screens, and, advance Channel 4’s unique role in serving young audiences. Last year, nearly one million 13-24’s streamed Channel 4 via a PC or a laptop, with such viewing up 17% year on year in 2024*. 16-34s are the biggest single cohort (49%) of Channel4.com streamers, with Gen Z representing 20% of the accounts that viewed Channel4.com**.

The new additions to Channel4.com’s offer focus on increasing engagement with this growing cohort of young audiences and creating a better experience for this generation of digital natives across multiple Channel 4 platforms.

Updates to Channel4.com include:

• show-led design, with each page packed with wide-screen video and stand-out imagery to make hit shows easier to find.
• a viewing experience which mirrors what streamers expect from apps, with easy to browse episode grids tailored for viewing on the go.
• as part of its commitment to an inclusive experience for all, the streaming player now features better audio description, sign-language and sub-titles signposting, plus improved navigation.
• Improved guidance options around ratings, accessibility, and stream definition.

All Channel 4 streamers – whether they access via channel4.com or one of its Apps - can also now enjoy improved personalised recommendations, based on Channel 4’s distinctive remit and viewers’ tastes. Changes include the ordering of content, blending Channel 4’s recommendations with streamers’ viewing history, plus, a ‘recency boost’, where show recommendations prioritise recently watched shows.

Streaming-First Content

Across Channel 4 streaming over the coming months, viewers can look forward to an evolving content line-up tailor-made for streaming. Channel 4 streamers can expect more standout shows such as highly anticipated drama The Gathering, must-watch comedy Queenie, hard hitting documentary Merseyside Detectives (w/t), and, much talked about reality hit Married At First Sight. Channel 4 streaming will also bring more of the biggest hits from overseas, offering  audience favourites such as US classics ER and The X Files, reality shows like Dance Moms and new premium scripted boxsets like The Great.

Channel 4 streaming will drop more box sets including We Are Lady Parts (series 2), debut more first-looks on streaming such as Hollyoaks, and, more streaming exclusives such as Murder of Laci Peterson and UNTOLD: The Rise and Rise of Taylor Swift coming soon.

Kiran Nataraja, Director of Streaming and Content Strategy, Channel 4, said: “Channel 4 streamers can look forward to a content line-up that’s distinctive, entertaining and truly stands out – with our commissions reflecting our Britishness, purpose and irreverent attitude that speaks to young audiences. We’re also going to give audiences a more seamless, connected and accessible viewing experience across all of Channel 4’s services and platforms. These enhancements support our plan to become the first public service streamer.”

Ends 

Notes to editors

*source: Barb/TechEdge. 2024 viewing based on Jan - Apr

**source: analysis of Channel 4 streaming account profiles across 2023.

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

With a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.

From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025.

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.