Channel 4 annual report

Book excerpt: For the past three years, the Committee has conducted an annual evidence session with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Channel four Television Corporation because as a statutory corporation it is accountable to Parliament for the delivery of its statutory remit. This year was a significant moment in Channel 4's history. The enactment of the Digital Economy Act at the end of the last Parliament amended the Communications Act 2003 to give Channel 4 a new and expanded remit and duties. A new management team was also put in place. The Committee agrees that the Digital Economy Act sets out sensible primary functions for Channel 4 to work towards and that Channel 4 has identified the correct method-self-reliance-to deliver them. Aligning all its portfolio of channels in support of these primary functions will not be easy, and it is essential that there is adequate external scrutiny of Channel 4's progress. The Committee welcomes recent draft guidance from Ofcom to establish a regime for establishing, monitoring, reviewing and enforcing public service-related obligations for Channel 4 across its network. However, Ofcom's ability to police Channel 4's new remit is limited, and the Committee is not convinced that Channel 4 is sufficiently accountable for its output outside its core channel. The Committee questioned the new management team on its remuneration policy, and the size of the final remuneration that outgoing Chief Executive Mr Duncan received. The Committee also urges Channel 4 to redouble its efforts to increase the proportion of UK-originated commissioning from the nations and regions. It proposes that Channel 4 set a medium term target of 15% of network spend on originated programming coming from the nations