Channel 4 boss issues stern warning to TV rivals who risk ‘going bust like Blockbuster’
CHANNEL 4 boss Ian Katz says any broadcaster that doesn’t embrace the move to streaming risks going the same way “as Kodak or Blockbuster”.
He said channels had to move with the times and streaming figures were becoming more important than the number of people who watch shows as they air.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Ian said Channel 4 was pursuing the move at speed and revealed that 22 per cent of their revenue now comes from digital.
He hit out that he felt he was “perhaps being a bit more honest” than his rivals about the commissioning slowdown as he countered the “perception” that Channel 4’s finances are “more dramatic than elsewhere”.
Blaming strikes across the pond, and streaming services “pulling billions from their budgets”, Ian added: “The commissioning slowdown has hit the whole industry and every commercial broadcaster has been affected by the ad revenue slump.
“Other broadcasters have chosen to communicate with suppliers whichever way they choose but I think that has led to the perception that the picture at Channel 4 has been more dramatic than elsewhere.
“We can commission at pace as soon as ad revenue starts to come through but in order to do that we have to behave responsibly.
“That is how we have worked through multiple ad recessions and we have always come back.
“Any broadcaster who obsesses about linear ratings now risks going the way of Kodak or Blockbuster.
“These are great brands that failed once the ground had shifted under their feet.”
Today, the channel also revealed it had commissioned a new comedy series, Disability Benefits, featuring comic Rosie Jones as a woman driven to setting up a drugs empire to survive.
Rosie said of the new series: “I am incredibly excited to be making Disability Benefits for Channel 4.
“It has always been my dream to have my own sitcom and now it is coming true! Bring it on!”
And bosses confirmed there would be a second series of Late Night Lycett, fronted by comedian Joe Lycett.
Six new episodes of the show will be due to air in 2024 following the success of the show’s first series, which welcomed guests Dame Joan Collins, Dame Joanna Lumley, Richard E Grant, Rob Delaney, Jonathan Ross, Judi Love, Alan Carr, Rosie Jones, Gemma Collins, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Munroe Bergdof, David Harewood, Greg James, Daisy May Cooper and more.
It will follow the Late Night Lycett Christmas special due to air later this year.
Joe teased of what’s to come: “I can’t wait to go bigger and wilder in series two.”
A CLIP of upcoming C4 doc series Banged Up – where six celebrities have to endure a “sentence” in a prison – was shown at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
The highlight was seeing disgraced, former MP Neil Parish being shown how to knife somebody before he broke down in tears while talking to the jail’s governor.
ON ROAD TO A £9M PAYOUT
IT has been revealed that a huge prize fund of £9million is set aside for new James Bond-themed show 007: Road To A Million.
Prime Video’s reality series is hosted by Succession actor Brian Cox playing The Controller.
Contestants in the series will pair up in a bid to pocket the ultimate prize of a million quid for winning.
But at the Edinburgh TV Festival it was confirmed there are nine couples taking part in the competition, which involves them flying to various exotic locations on dangerous missions.
It means that if they all succeed on the show, they stand to take home a combined total of £9million.
Even Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win hasn’t seen that kind of money paid out.
MAYA Jama will host the new Love Island Games on American streaming service Peacock.
The Love Island host joins Iain Stirling for the new show, which sees fan-favourite Islanders from across the UK, USA, Australia and beyond have a second shot at love.
The new series, filmed in Fiji, will air from November 1.
JIMMY Carr has been confirmed as the host of new reality game show, Battle In The Box.
Comedians will be paired up to battle it out against each other in a large empty boxes which they are trapped in for 24 hours – with nothing but cameras and each other.
To win, and escape the box, they must compete in a series of mental and physical challenges set by Jimmy.
The show will air on Dave and UKTV Play.
JEN’S GRAND PLAN
JENNA Coleman poses at the Grand Canyon in this first look of her as vengeful wife Liv Taylor.
The seemingly perfect partner in new Prime Video drama Wilderness – available to stream from September 15 – heads off on an American road trip with husband Will, played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
But the romantic break quickly becomes a fight for survival after Liv discovers Will’s affair and hatches a plan to make him pay . . .
MOORE ORGIES ON SKY
VIEWERS of scandalous new series Mary & George can expect plenty of steamy scenes when it hits screens this autumn.
Sky revealed clips from the 17th-century drama epic, which stars Hunger Games actress Julianne Moore, at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
She plays real-life countess Mary Villiers, who pimped out her own child to be the lover of King James and gain serious power.
The social climber is heard telling her handsome son: “If I looked like you I’d rule the world.”
The footage included orgies and lots of same-sex scenes among men and women of the Royal Court.
Even Oscar-winner Julianne’s character is seen indulging in some action as she climbs through the ranks of English society.
Sky also revealed a second series of comedy drama Funny Woman with Gemma Arterton, as well as panel show Rob Beckett’s Smart TV.
DISNEY+ bosses have revealed that writer Jilly Cooper has seen the first episode of the adaptation of her steamy novel, Rivals, starring the likes of Aidan Turner, Emily Atack, Danny Dyer and David Tennant.
And thankfully the author has given her seal of approval…which must be a relief after all the time and money that’s been spent on it.