Pact Statement on Ofcom's Channel 4 Licence Renewal Consultation

Pact is disappointed with Ofcom’s proposal to increase Channel 4’s Nations quota from 9 per cent to 12 per cent of hours and expenditure by 2030 as part of Channel 4’s renewed licence.

This was an opportunity for Ofcom to mitigate the impacts of Channel 4‘s new capacity to make its own programmes, especially given the precarious climate that the entire production sector is facing.

We are concerned that this could put the BBC’s Nations budget under further pressure and inadvertently put a strain on the wider broadcasting ecology in the UK as Channel 4 plays an equally important role in the development and maintenance of the production sector.

Pact will be responding to Ofcom’s further consultation on Channel 4’s Made outside of England quotas and highlighting our concerns around Ofcom’s proposals.

Pact CEO, John McVay, said: “Ofcom’s proposal to increase Channel 4’s Nations quotas by only 3 per cent to 12 per cent is deeply disappointing. This is a missed opportunity at a time when producers are struggling across the board. The quotas are a key intervention to maintaining a healthy and vibrant PSB system which can reflect different voices of people across the UK. Today’s decision risks this much needed diversity."