Channel 4 has announced a series of measures in order to increase commissions from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As well as the ring-fenced £35m content spend, 4Skills will also launch an Assistant Commissioning Editor programme in Channel 4’s hub cities and Leeds.
The broadcaster stated that it would increase its commitment to 12% (from 9%) of its main channel content spend and hours in the nations by 2028. This would be 2 years ahead of the quota requirement set by Ofcom.
The £35m is broken down as £10m in 2026 and £25m in 2027.
READ MORE – Screen Scotland joins call for Channel 4 production quotas to reflect entire UK
“We’re determined to increase our commissions from producers in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland and this strategy will help deliver on that commitment,” said Jo Street, Channel 4’s Head of Lifestyle and Director of Commissioning.
“Great ideas surface when there are trusting and creative relationships between suppliers and commissioners. This plan aims to stimulate and encourage those conditions across the UK. By strengthening the relationship and understanding between our commissioning leads and production companies in the Nations, we’ll give producers a better insight into the priorities for each genre, a sharper focus on what really cuts through for us and ultimately a better chance to get their ideas commissioned.”
Channel 4 has appointed a lead commissioning editor, one for each Nation, who has been tasked with nurturing stronger relationships with key suppliers in their designated Nation.
Genre Heads of Department will also draft three-year plans for each Nation and the English regions.
All new More4 commissions in 2025 and 2026 will be set aside for indies based in the Nations & English regions.
