Channel 4’s role
Channel 4 Corporation (C4C) is a publicly owned, not‑for‑profit body funded by commercial revenues. Its flagship service, Channel 4, was launched in 1982 to expand viewer choice, cater to audiences underserved by other broadcasters and support innovation and the growth of the UK’s independent production sector. C4C operates a portfolio of linear television channels including E4, E4 Extra, More4 and Film4. It also provides the Channel 4 streaming service and streams its content on other digital platforms.
Channel 4 has a unique remit and also contributes to the fulfilment of the wider PSB purposes. The Digital Economy Act 2010 extended C4C’s obligations by introducing media content duties which it can deliver across its full suite of services. The Media Act 2024 permitted C4C to make content for its flagship channel, Channel 4, and own the intellectual property for this output.
How Ofcom regulates Channel 4
Ofcom uses a range of regulatory instruments to hold C4C to account for delivering its remit and media content duties. These include the Channel 4 licence, which sets out C4C’s core obligations, as well as requirements to produce a set of annual planning and reporting documents which Ofcom monitors. These include: a Statement of Programme Policy (SoPP), a Statement of Media Content Policy (SMCP) and a Statement of Commissioning Policy (SoCP). Ofcom also assesses C4C’s delivery through more detailed periodic assessments, including the C4C Five-year Review and Public Service Media (PSM) Reviews.
Where Ofcom determines that C4C has failed in any respect to fulfil its public service remit or to perform one or more of its media content or commissioning duties (including its duties in relation to the preparation of a SMCP or SoCP), and is of the opinion that the failure is serious and not excused by economic or market conditions, Ofcom has the power to direct C4C to take corrective action, including revising its SMCP, SoCP or SoPP. If C4C fails to comply with such a direction in respect of a failure to perform one or more of its media content or commissioning programmes duties, Ofcom has the power to vary the Channel 4 licence as it considers appropriate for remedying C4C’s failure.
Complain about something you’ve seen on this channel
You can make a complaint about a programme you watched on one of Channel 4’s channels.
Latest publication
Published 7 July 2026
Under the Communications Act 2003, C4C must prepare an annual statement of media content policy (SMCP) setting out its plans for meeting its media content duties in the coming year and reporting on its performance over the past year. This document represents Ofcom’s response to the 2025 SMCP, setting out our views on the delivery of C4C’s remit and duties over the past year as well as its future strategy.
Key regulatory documents
- Channel 4 Licence
- Guidance for Statement of Programme Policy andStatement of Media Content Policy
- Guidance for Channel 4 Corporation’s Statement of Commissioning Policy
- Channel 4 Schedule 9 Arrangements