More than a quarter of jobs are to go at Channel 4 as the broadcaster kickstarts a “fundamental” transformation in how it operates.
In the biggest single round of layoffs since it was founded in 1982, C4 will cut around 340 jobs - 28% of its workforce, which stood at 1,276 last year - and will shortly begin a formal consultation process across the business.
According to a report in Broadcast, half of C4's commissioning team are in consultation and the broadcaster plans to merge its documentaries and fact ent, reality and entertainment, comedy and drama, and specialist factual teams.
Lifestyle, digital and current affairs are expected to continue as standalone divisions.
Chief executive Priya Dogra has told staff that it said the move is the first part of a “new organisational design” that will reduce management layers, simplify decision-making, remove duplication and greatly reduce non-programming spend.
It follows several months of reviewing C4’s operations, commissioned by Dogra upon her appointment, to address how the broadcaster can weather changing audience habits, increasing global competition and a challenging advertising market.
She said that while revenues have remained broadly constant over the past seven years, operating costs are now 25% higher.
"In 2019, running Channel 4 cost us around 32p for every £1 of revenue we generated; today that figure is around 40p," she said.
"That means less of our revenue is available to invest in programmes, and as that declines, so does our ability to drive audience and revenue growth.”
Describing C4 as “a precious asset which plays a unique role in the UK”, Dogra said:
“We need to secure and own our future so we can continue to make shows others won’t, reach audiences others can’t, and thrive as a distinctive and disruptive British voice for future generations.
“The challenges we face require a fundamental transformation in how we work. I know the proposals we are announcing today will be very difficult for many colleagues and will have a significant impact across the organisation. Many talented people who have made an enormous contribution to Channel 4 will be leaving as a result.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly, but I strongly believe they are necessary to create a simpler, more focused and more sustainable Channel 4 that can invest a greater proportion of revenues into distinctive content, back British creativity and deliver impact for audiences long into the future.”
