Editing Channel 4 (section)

==History==
{{For timeline}}

===Conception===
{{main|Fourth UK television service}}
Before Channel 4 and S4C, Britain had three terrestrial television services: [[BBC1]], [[BBC2]], and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], with BBC2 the last to launch in 1964. The [[Broadcasting Act 1980]] began the process of adding a fourth channel; Channel Four Television Company was formally created in 1981, along with its [[S4C|Welsh counterpart]].

The notion of a second commercial broadcaster in the United Kingdom had been around since the inception of ITV in 1954 and its subsequent launch in 1955; the idea of an "ITV2" was long expected and pushed for. Indeed, television sets sold throughout the 1970s and early 1980s often had a spare tuning button labelled "ITV 2" or "IBA 2". Throughout [[History of ITV|ITV's history]] and until Channel 4 finally became a reality, a perennial dialogue existed between the [[General Post Office|GPO]], [[Government of the United Kingdom|the government]], the ITV companies and other interested parties, concerning the form such an expansion of commercial broadcasting would take. Most likely, politics had the biggest impact leading to a delay of almost three decades before the second commercial channel became a reality.<ref name="tbsseefour"/>

One benefit of the late arrival of the channel was that its frequency allocations at each transmitter had already been arranged in the early 1960s when the launch of an "ITV2" was anticipated.<ref name="tbsseefour"/> This led to good coverage across most of the country and few problems of interference with other UK-based transmissions; a stark contrast to the difficulties associated with [[Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Channel 5]]'s launch almost 15 years later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1231802.stm|title=Channel 5 turns four |date=30 March 2001|work=BBC News|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430125641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1231802.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Wales===
{{Main|S4C}}
At the time the fourth service was being considered, a movement in Wales lobbied for the creation of dedicated service that would air [[Welsh language]] programmes, then only catered for at off-peak times on [[BBC Wales]] and [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]]. The campaign was taken so seriously by [[Gwynfor Evans]], former president of [[Plaid Cymru]], that he threatened the government with a hunger strike were it not to honour the plans.<ref name="seefour_wales">{{cite web |url=http://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/seefour/wales |title=A Channel for Wales |author=Dafydd Hancock |publisher=seefour by Electromusications |website=Transdiffusion Broadcasting System |date=11 September 2005 |access-date=23 March 2007 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013117/http://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/seefour/wales |url-status=live }}</ref>

The result was that Channel 4 as seen by the rest of the United Kingdom would be replaced in Wales by [[S4C]] (Sianel Pedwar Cymru, meaning "Channel Four Wales" in Welsh). Operated by [[S4C Authority|a specially created authority]], S4C would air programmes in Welsh made by HTV, the BBC and independent companies. Initially, limited frequency space meant that Channel 4 could not be broadcast alongside S4C, though some Channel 4 programmes would be aired at less popular times on the Welsh variant; this practice continued until the closure of S4C's analogue transmissions in 2010, at which time S4C became a fully Welsh channel. With this conversion of the [[Wenvoe transmitting station|Wenvoe]] transmitter group in Wales to digital terrestrial broadcasting on 31 March 2010, Channel 4 became a nationwide television channel for the first time.

Since then, carriage on digital [[cable television|cable]], [[satellite television|satellite]] and [[digital terrestrial]] has introduced Channel 4 to Welsh homes where it is now universally available.

===1982–1992: Launch and IBA control===
After some months of test broadcasts, the new broadcaster began scheduled transmissions on 2 November 1982 from Scala House, the former site of the [[Scala Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Roe|first=Ken|title=Scala Cinema Club|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/29396|url-status=live|website=Cinema Treasures|access-date=2 August 2021|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802111935/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/29396}}</ref> Its initial broadcasts reached 87% of the United Kingdom.<ref name=varhist>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=2 November 1992|page=87|title=Web's decade of controversy}}</ref>

The first voice heard on Channel 4's opening day of 2 November 1982 was that of [[continuity announcer]] [[Paul Coia]] who said: "Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be able to say to you, welcome to Channel 4."<ref name=RTC42012>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Paul|title=Channel 4 turns 30: relive the first day on air|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-11-02/channel-4-turns-30-relive-the-first-day-on-air/|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=2 November 2012|access-date=16 August 2019|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808033750/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-11-02/channel-4-turns-30-relive-the-first-day-on-air/|url-status=dead }}</ref> Following the announcement, the channel played a montage of clips from its programmes set to the station's signature tune, "Fourscore", written by [[David Dundas (musician)|David Dundas]], which would form the basis of the station's jingles for its first decade. The first programme to air on the channel was the teatime game show ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'', produced by [[Yorkshire Television]], at 16:45. The first person to be seen on Channel 4 was [[Richard Whiteley]], with [[Ted Moult]] being the second. Whiteley hosted the gameshow for 23 years until his death in 2005. The first woman on the channel, contrary to popular belief, was not Whiteley's ''Countdown'' co-host [[Carol Vorderman]], but a lexicographer only ever identified as Mary. Whiteley opened the show with the words: "As the countdown to a brand new channel ends, a brand new countdown begins."<ref name=RTC42012/> On its first day, Channel 4 also broadcast the soap opera ''[[Brookside (TV series)|Brookside]]'', which often ran storylines thought to be controversial; this ran until 2003.

After three days, ITV chiefs called for founding chief executive [[Jeremy Isaacs]] to resign due to poor ratings. Critics called it "Channel Bore" and "Channel Snore".<ref name=varhist/>

At its launch, Channel 4 committed itself to providing an alternative to the existing channels, an agenda in part set out by its remit which required the provision of programming to minority groups. In step with its remit, the channel became well received both by minority groups and the arts and cultural worlds during this period under Isaacs, during which the channel gained a reputation for programmes on the contemporary arts. Two programmes captured awards from the [[Broadcasting Press Guild]] in March 1983: best comedy for ''[[The Comic Strip Presents]]…Five Go Mad in Dorset,'' and best on-screen performance in a non-acting role for [[Tom Keating]] in his series ''On Painters''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gosling |first=Kenneth |date=18 March 1983 |title=Channel 4 wins two awards |pages=5 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref> Channel 4 co-commissioned [[Robert Ashley]]'s television opera ''[[Perfect Lives]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertashley.org/productions/1977-83-perfectlives.htm|title=Robert Ashley-Perfect Lives|website=www.robertashley.org|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225015138/http://www.robertashley.org/productions/1977-83-perfectlives.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> which it premiered over several episodes in 1984. The channel often did not receive mass audiences for much of this period, as might be expected for a station focusing on minority interests. During this time, Channel 4 also began the funding of independent films, such as the [[Merchant Ivory]] docudrama ''[[The Courtesans of Bombay]]''.

In 1987, [[Richard Attenborough]] replaced [[Edmund Dell]] as chairman. In 1988, [[Michael Grade]] became CEO.<ref name=varhist/>

In 1992, Channel 4 faced its first libel case which was brought by [[Jani Allan]], a South African journalist, who objected to her representation in [[Nick Broomfield]]'s documentary ''[[The Leader, His Driver and the Driver's Wife]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/901342.stm |title=Victims of the 'silver fox' |access-date=20 August 2007 |work=BBC News |date=29 August 2000 |archive-date=27 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327230632/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/901342.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1993–2006: Channel Four Television Corporation===
{{Main|Channel Four Television Corporation}}
[[File:Multi coloured 4, 124 Horseferry Road, London.jpg|thumb|Channel 4 headquarters, [[124 Horseferry Road]], London]]
After control of the station passed from the Channel Four Television Company to the [[Channel Four Television Corporation]] in 1993, a shift in broadcasting style took place. Instead of aiming for minority tastes, it began to focus on the edges of the mainstream, and the centre of the mass market itself.<ref>{{cite book|last=Debrett|first=Mary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CtG2HyeBM2IC&pg=PA65=|title=Reinventing Public Service Television for the Digital Future|date=2010|publisher=[[Intellect Books]]|isbn=978-1-84150-321-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/when-channel-4-wasnt-just-bake-off-and-benefits-street|title=When Channel 4 wasn't just Bake Off and Benefits Street: It was once part of a golden era of the popular avant-garde|last=Thompson|first=Sam|date=14 September 2018|website=Prospect Magazine|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713042337/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/when-channel-4-wasnt-just-bake-off-and-benefits-street|url-status=live}}</ref> It began to show many American programmes in peak viewing time, far more than it had previously done.

In September 1993, the channel broadcast the direct-to-TV documentary film ''[[Beyond Citizen Kane]]'', in which it displayed the dominant position of the Rede Globo (now [[TV Globo]]) television network, and discussed its influence, power, and political connections in Brazil.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Channel 4 gave many popular and influential American comedy and drama series their first exposure on British television, such as ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[Will & Grace]]'', ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'', ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'', ''[[Without a Trace]]'', ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'', ''[[Frasier]]'', [[Lost (2004 TV series)|''Lost'']], ''[[Nip/Tuck]]'', ''[[Third Watch]]'', ''[[The West Wing]]'', ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'', ''[[Roseanne]]'', ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'', ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]'', ''[[Sex and the City]]'', ''[[The Sopranos]]'', ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]],'' ''[[King of the Hill]], [[Babylon 5]]'', ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]],'' ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[South Park]]'' and ''[[Futurama]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=BFI Screenonline: Channel 4 Drama |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1294321/index.html |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Channel 4 – the home of great telly {{!}} Channel 4 |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-home-great-telly |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=www.channel4.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=5 November 1999|title=Third Watch to air on Sky and C4 |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/third-watch-to-air-on-sky-and-c4/1224264.article#:~:text=Sky%20One%20and%20Channel%204%20have%20secured,in%20the%20US,%20writes%20Jason%20Deans.%20The. |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=Broadcast }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Deans |first=Jason |date=21 February 2006 |title=Channel 4 streamlines West Wing schedule |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/21/broadcasting |access-date=16 March 2025 |work=The Guardian  |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In the early 2000s, Channel 4 began broadcasting reality formats such as ''[[Big Brother (British TV series)|Big Brother]]'' and obtained the rights to broadcast mass appeal sporting events like [[cricket]] and [[horse racing]]. This new direction increased ratings and revenues. The popularity of ''Big Brother'' led to the launches of other, shorter-lived new reality shows to chase the populist audience, such as ''[[The Salon (TV series)|The Salon]]'', ''[[Shattered (British TV series)|Shattered]]'' and ''[[Space Cadets (TV series)|Space Cadets]]''.

In addition, the corporation launched several new television channels through its new [[4Ventures]] offshoot, including [[Film4]], [[At the Races]], [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] and [[More4]].

Partially in reaction to its new "populist" direction, the [[Communications Act 2003]] directed the channel to demonstrate innovation, experimentation, and creativity, appeal to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society, and include programmes of an educational nature which exhibit a distinctive character.<ref name="overview"/>

On 31 December 2004, Channel 4 launched a new [[station identification|visual identity]] in which the logo is disguised as different objects and the "4" can be seen from an angle.

Under the leadership of [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] founder [[Andy Duncan (businessman)|Andy Duncan]], 2005 saw a change of direction for Channel 4's digital channels. The company made E4 [[free-to-air]] on [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|digital terrestrial television]], and launched a new free-to-air digital channel called [[More4]]. By October, Channel 4 had joined the Freeview consortium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1225 |title=DTG News: ITV and Channel 4 confirm Freeview stakes |access-date=3 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219105350/http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1225 |archive-date=19 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By July 2006, Film4 had likewise become free-to-air and restarted broadcasting on digital terrestrial.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4sales.com/news/news-article.aspx?year=2006&id=21 |title=CHANNEL4SALES: NEWS |access-date=3 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708233806/http://www.channel4sales.com/news/news-article.aspx?year=2006&id=21 |archive-date=8 July 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Venturing into radio broadcasting, 2005 saw Channel 4 purchase 51% of shares in the now defunct [[Oneword]] radio station, with UBC Media holding on to the remaining shares. New programmes such as the weekly, half-hour ''The Morning Report'' news programme were among some of the new content Channel 4 provided for the station, with the name [[#4radio|4Radio]] being used. As of early 2009, however, Channel 4's future involvement in radio remained uncertain.

=== Since 2006 ===
[[File:The Majestic (Channel 4).jpg|thumb|right|In 2020, Channel 4 opened a new national headquarters in the redeveloped [[Majestic, Leeds|Majestic Building]] on [[City Square, Leeds|City Square]], Leeds.]]

Before [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|the digital switchover]], Channel 4 raised concerns over how it might finance its public service obligations afterward. In April 2006, it was announced that Channel 4's digital switch-over costs would be paid for by licence fee revenues.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/apr/25/citynews.broadcasting1 |title=Media registration promo |access-date=3 April 2007 |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=John |last=Plunkett |date=26 April 2006 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417090804/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/apr/25/citynews.broadcasting1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2007, Channel 4 paid £28{{Nbsp}}million for a 50% stake in the TV business of British media company [[EMAP]], which had seven music video channels.<ref>{{cite web |author=Neil Wilkes |date=23 July 2007 |title=Channel 4 takes 50% stake in Emap TV |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a67199/channel-4-takes-50-stake-in-emap-tv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015213407/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a67199/channel-4-takes-50-percent-stake-in-emap-tv.html |archive-date=15 October 2015 |access-date=8 June 2022 |website=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> On 15 August 2008, [[4Music]] was launched across the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4music.com/ |title=The Box Plus Network |first=The Box Plus |last=Network |website=4Music |access-date=10 February 2013 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221016/http://www.4music.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Channel 4 announced interest in launching a high-definition version of Film4 on Freeview, to coincide with the launch of Channel 4 HD,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2007/music/news/channel-4-maps-music-presence-1117962004/ |title=Channel 4 maps music presence |access-date=7 May 2007 |first=Steve |last=Clarke |date=28 March 2007 |work=Variety |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307220612/https://variety.com/2007/music/news/channel-4-maps-music-presence-1117962004/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051220 |title=Channel 4 to join YouTube and add music channel to – ukfree.tv |access-date=7 May 2007 |archive-date=13 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213020743/http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051220 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the fourth HD slot was given to Channel 5 instead.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a159413/five-awarded-freeview-hd-licence/ |title=Five awarded Freeview HD licence |date=11 June 2009 |website=Digital Spy |access-date=8 June 2022|archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015213407/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a159413/five-awarded-freeview-hd-licence.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 2 November 2007, the station celebrated its 25th birthday. It showed the first episode of ''Countdown'', an anniversary ''Countdown'' special, and [[The Big Fat Quiz of the Year#The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz|a special edition of ''The Big Fat Quiz'']]. It used the original multicoloured 1982–1996 blocks logo on presentation, and idents using the Fourscore jingle throughout the day.

In November 2009, Channel 4 launched a week of [[3D television]], broadcasting selected programmes each night using [[stereoscopic]] [[ColorCode 3D]] technology. The accompanying 3D glasses were distributed through [[Sainsbury's]] supermarkets.<ref>{{cite web |title=3D Week – Channel 4<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/3d-week |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223185346/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/3d-week |archive-date=23 December 2016 |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref>

On 29 September 2015, Channel 4 revamped its presentation for a fifth time; the new branding downplayed the "4" logo from most on-air usage, in favour of using the shapes from the logo in various forms. Four new idents were filmed by [[Jonathan Glazer]], which featured the shapes in various real-world scenes depicting the "discovery" and "origins" of the shapes. The full logo was still occasionally used, but primarily for off-air marketing. Channel 4 also commissioned two new corporate typefaces, "Chadwick", and "Horseferry" (a variation of Chadwick with the aforementioned shapes incorporated into its letter forms), for use across promotional material and on-air.<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Eliza |date=30 September 2015 |title=Channel 4 rebrands, with help from Jonathan Glazer and Neville Brody |url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2015/september/channel-4-rebrands-with-help-from-jonathan-glazer-and-neville-brody/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424113200/https://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2015/september/channel-4-rebrands-with-help-from-jonathan-glazer-and-neville-brody/ |archive-date=24 April 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 |publisher=[[Creative Review]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sherwin |first=Adam |date=1 October 2015 |title=Channel 4 ditches signature '4' logo in 'brave and bizarre' rebrand |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/channel-4-ditches-signature-4-logo-in-brave-and-bizarre-rebrand-a6674156.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223044225/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/channel-4-ditches-signature-4-logo-in-brave-and-bizarre-rebrand-a6674156.html |archive-date=23 December 2019 |access-date=14 February 2017 |work=The Independent}}</ref>

In June 2017, it was announced that [[Alex Mahon]] would be the next chief executive, and would take over from [[David Abraham (executive)|David Abraham]], who left in November 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/05/channel-4-alex-mahon-chief-executive-shine-foundry |title=Channel 4 confirms Alex Mahon as chief executive |first=Mark |last=Sweney |date=5 June 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126023259/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/05/channel-4-alex-mahon-chief-executive-shine-foundry |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40158084 |title=Alex Mahon named as new Channel 4 chief executive |date=5 June 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308035608/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40158084 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 31 October 2017, Channel 4 introduced a new series of idents continuing the theme, this time depicting the logo shapes as having formed into an [[anthropomorphic]] "giant" character.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 October 2017 |title=Channel 4 logo becomes "C4 giant" in quirky new idents |url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/channel-4-logo-becomes-c4-giant-in-quirky-new-idents/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129105451/https://www.creativereview.co.uk/channel-4-logo-becomes-c4-giant-in-quirky-new-idents/ |archive-date=29 November 2017 |access-date=7 November 2017 |work=Creative Review }}</ref>

On 25 September 2021, Channel 4 and several of its sub-channels went off air after an incident at [[Red Bee Media|Red Bee Media's]] playout centre in west London. Channel 4, [[More4]], [[Film4]], [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]], [[4Music]], [[The Box (British TV channel)|The Box]], [[Box Hits]], [[Kiss TV|Kiss]], [[Magic (TV channel)|Magic]] and [[Kerrang! TV|Kerrang!]] stopped transmitting, but [[4seven]] was not impacted. The incident still affected a number of the channels by 30 September.<ref>{{cite news |title=E4 sorry for broadcasting wrong ''Married At First Sight'' episode |work=BBC News |date=October 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58756870 |access-date=1 October 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930233844/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58756870 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=25 September 2021|title=Channel 4 goes off-air after outage caused by technical problem|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/25/channel-4-goes-off-air-after-outage-caused-by-technical-problem|access-date=26 September 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001091633/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/25/channel-4-goes-off-air-after-outage-caused-by-technical-problem|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[London Fire Brigade]] confirmed that a gas fire prevention system at the site had been activated, but firefighters found no sign of fire. Activation of the fire suppression system caused catastrophic damage to some systems, such as Channel 4's subtitles, signing, and audio description system. An emergency backup subtitling system also failed, leaving Channel 4 unable to provide access services to viewers. This situation was criticised by the National Deaf Children's Society, which complained to the broadcasting watchdog.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/channel-4-attacked-as-it-emerges-subtitles-may-not-be-fixed-until-the-middle-of-november-12440821 |title=Channel 4 attacked as it emerges subtitles may not be fixed until the middle of November |work=Sky News |last=Phillips |first=Alexa |date=22 October 2021 |access-date=3 January 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109173140/https://news.sky.com/story/channel-4-attacked-as-it-emerges-subtitles-may-not-be-fixed-until-the-middle-of-november-12440821 }}</ref> A new subtitling, signing and audio description system had to be built from scratch.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58965380|title=Channel 4 subtitles and other services not likely to return until mid-November|work=BBC News|date=19 October 2021|access-date=19 October 2021|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019090703/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58965380|url-status=live}}</ref> The service eventually began to return at the end of October.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59016233 |title=Channel 4 subtitles returning after fire disruption |work=BBC News |date= 22 October 2021|accessdate=1 February 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115021528/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59016233 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2022 after a six-month long investigation, Ofcom found that Channel 4 had breached its broadcast licence conditions on two grounds: Missing its subtitles quota on Freesat for 2021 and failure to effectively communicate with affected audiences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61863696|title=C4 subtitle problems breached licence conditions, Ofcom finds|work=BBC News |date=20 June 2022}}</ref>

On 23 December 2021, [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]] presented ''Channel 4 News'' for the last time, after 32 years as a main presenter on the programme, making Snow one of the UK's longest-serving presenters on a national news programme.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59770835 |title=Jon Snow bows out of Channel 4 News after 32 years |work=BBC News |date=23 December 2021 |access-date=3 January 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224125511/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59770835 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/dec/24/jon-snows-exit-marks-the-end-of-an-era-of-tv-news-big-beasts |title=Jon Snow's exit marks the end of an era of TV news big beasts |work=The Guardian |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=24 December 2021 |access-date=3 January 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103144024/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/dec/24/jon-snows-exit-marks-the-end-of-an-era-of-tv-news-big-beasts }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/dec/23/tributes-as-legend-jon-snow-bows-out-from-c4-news-after-32-years |title=Tributes as 'legend' Jon Snow bows out from C4 News after 32 years |work=The Guardian |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=23 December 2021 |access-date=3 January 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101051206/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/dec/23/tributes-as-legend-jon-snow-bows-out-from-c4-news-after-32-years }}</ref>

In April 2025, it was announced that Alex Mahon would step down as chief executive (CEO) of Channel 4 in the summer of that year. She was succeeded on an interim basis by Jonathan Allan, the broadcaster's chief operating officer, while a search for a permanent replacement was launched.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koopman |first=Saskia |date=2025-04-28 |title=Channel 4 chief Alex Mahon steps down afer 8 years |url=https://www.cityam.com/channel-4-chief-alex-mahon-steps-down-afer-8-years/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref>

====Abandoned privatisation====
Channel 4's parent company, [[Channel Four Television Corporation]], was considered for privatisation by the governments of [[Margaret Thatcher]], [[John Major]] and [[Tony Blair]].<ref name="Mance">{{cite news |last1=Mance |first1=Henry |title=Five programmes to secure future of Channel 4 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9f90cc36-c50c-11e5-b3b1-7b2481276e45.html |access-date=17 February 2016 |work=Financial Times |date=28 January 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402170036/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9f90cc36-c50c-11e5-b3b1-7b2481276e45.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, the [[Cameron-Clegg coalition government]] drew up proposals to privatise the corporation but the sale was blocked by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] Business Secretary [[Vince Cable]].<ref>{{cite web |date=13 September 2014 |title=Ministers blocked bid to privatise Channel 4 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/11093533/Ministers-blocked-bid-to-privatise-Channel-4.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/11093533/Ministers-blocked-bid-to-privatise-Channel-4.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=14 September 2014 |website=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2016, the future of the channel was again being looked into by the government, with analysts suggesting several options for its future.<ref name="Mance"/> In June 2021, the government of [[Boris Johnson]] was considering selling the channel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Duke|first=Simon|title=Channel 4 facing sale as Treasury seeks to cash in|newspaper=[[The Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/channel-4-facing-sale-as-treasury-seeks-to-cash-in-lm8kdzjxq|access-date=2 June 2021|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703053708/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/channel-4-facing-sale-as-treasury-seeks-to-cash-in-lm8kdzjxq|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2022, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport acknowledged that ministerial discussions were taking place regarding the sale of Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel's chief executive, Alex Mahon, expressed disappointment at this, saying that its vision for the future was "rooted in continued public ownership".<ref>{{cite news |last= |date=4 April 2022 |title=British government set to sell broadcaster Channel 4 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/britain-privatise-broadcaster-channel-4-2022-04-04/ |access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref>

In January 2023, [[Michelle Donelan]] confirmed that the plans to sell Channel 4 were scrapped and that it would remain in public ownership for the foreseeable future.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 January 2023 |title=Channel 4: Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan confirms U-turn on privatisation |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64174141 |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>