Channel Four - Media Studies A2

1. A 2 M E D I A S T U D I E S
Channel 4

2. Background Information
• The Channel 4 service was established under the broadcasting act 1981 and was originally provided by the
Independent Broadcasting Authority (which no longer exists).
• Channel 4 is a television broadcaster which began transmission on 2nd November 1982. It transmits across
the whole of the UK, except some parts of Wales which are covered by the Welsh language.
• It is available on all digital platforms as well as through conventional analogue transmission.
• Channel 4 does not produce its own programmes but commissions them from more than 300 independent
production companies right across the UK, making it the major stimulus and outlet for Britain’s highly
successful independent production sector. It invests heavily in training and talent development through the
industry.
• As well as the main Channel 4 service, the Channel Four Group operates a variety of pay channels, including
the E4 entertainment channel, E4+1, and three film channels. Through its Film Four division it produces and
co-produces feature films for the UK and global markets.
• It also operates a wide variety of online and broadband services that cover entertainment, information,
education, heath, careers and many other areas. More than three quarters of the UK’s population watch
Channel 4 services in the course of an average week.

3. Background Information
 Channel 4 has world class reputation in documentaries
based on its history of bold storytelling and innovative use
of technology. Over the past thirty years, many of their
most signification commissions have been the result of
taking on ideas no one else would have been brave
enough to try. Their biggest single notes to producers has
always been to bring us the most daring and controversial
ideas.
 Channel 4 is building a substantial sports portfolio
including Racing and Athletics. A major landmark in the
history of sport at Channel 4 is the Paralympics which
came to London on August 29th 2012. Channel 4 won the
broadcast and online rights and showed more coverage
than ever before and to market the games with the biggest
campaign in Channel 4’s history.
 Here are some of the sporting programmes Channel 4
broadcast. Channel 4 is available on demand and a wide
range of social networking sites making it accessible 24/7.

4. Social Networking
• Channel Four have both a Facebook and Twitter page. Over 138,000 people have liked their Facebook
page. On twitter, Channel Four have 232,077 followers. A clever marketing tool that Channel Four have
done is recommend their other pages such as E4, Documentaries On 4 and Channel 4 News. This raises
awareness of all aspects of Channel 4 and encourages users of Facebook to like other pages. Channel Four
also updates statuses raising awareness about upcoming programmes that Channel 4 are broadcasting.

5. Branding – Logo
 Channel 4 has a logo which is used as a strong marketing tool. The consumers instantly know when they
see this logo that it is Channel 4. It is used to make the consumers aware of which channel to access the
programmes they want to view as well as creating a strong brand identity.
• In print, the facia of the logo is invisible, so that is integrates with
its surroundings. We see its distinctive shadow overlaying
photographs, illustrations and textures. The logo always
foregrounds the real stars the channel – the shows.
• The Channel 4 logo has been designed to reproduce at a
minimum height of 10mm. On the web the minimum size of the
logo is 30 pixels deep. There is no maximum reproduction size of
the logo.

6. Branding – Logo
Logo Position – Many brands
place their logos in the bottom
right position of the page.
However, Channel 4 places its
logo in a distinctive centre right
position. This is unique to the
channel as it there instantly
recognizable.
Isolation Area – The Channel
4 identity should always be
surrounded by a minimum area
of space. The area of isolation
ensures that headlines, text or
other visual elements do not
encroach on the logo. The area
is defined by using a third of the
high of the logo.

7. Marketing – Competition
Channel Four often put on many competitions to raise awareness of not only
Channel Four itself but promote other products. Country Life butter
sponsored Channel Four’s programme Blighty. The aim was to reinforce the
“Britishness” of Country Life Butter and build on the John Lydon creative that
had just launched. Country Life received branding on all launch marketing
and menu boards. After the initial sponsorship Blighty created the Best of
British programme strand which Country Life sponsored for 12 months.
The campaign reached 23 million adults and Country Life saw a +27% rise in
sales over the period. Country Life was the third most spontaneously recalled
butter brand during the campaign.
Brand perception increased:-
Blightly viewers were more positive to the brand and felt that the
sponsorship was appropiate
Blighty viewers were 85% more likely to say Country Life is made in Britain. As
the partnership, Blighty viewers significantly more likely to purchase Country
Life butter than non-viewers.

8. Channel 4 Mobile Trend Research
Objectives:
 To uncover the latest consumer trends on mobile usage and interest in mobile services among 16-54 year olds.
 To understand levels of dual screen (TV and mobile) usage
 To identify how Channel 4 can work with advertisers within the mobile category to enhance their brand
perceptions
Key findings
 Mobile internet usage is widespread among early adopters and is rapidly moving to the mainstream fuelled by
the increased popularity of smartphones.
 The mobile interest is adding to overall internet use rather than cannibalizing it with different usage between
mobiles and PCs/laptops.
 60% of smart phone owners dual screen with their phones while watching TV which can both complement a
programme and act as a gateway for calls to action.
 Channel 4 portfolio viewers are more likely than the average to be daily mobile internet users and interested in
social networking.
Brand Synergy - is a marketing phenomenon in which the association of two or more brands will create an
appeal to the consumer stronger than the sum of the appeal of each product.
 The data also allowed Channel Four to create brand maps, plotting mobile phone brands against channels,
platforms and programmes in order to analyze the possible effect of media tie-up on brand perceptions.

9. Audiences

10. Mobile Internet Access – Channel 4

11. Overnight Statistics

12. Source: Public Impact Tracker. Fieldwork conducted between 30th July – 27th August 2009; 2,010 online interviews among adults aged 16+
8% 7%
16%
11%
5%
8%
24%
21%
6% 5%
It makes me think about things in new and
different ways
It gives me new ideas
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 Channel 4 five
% saying each channel is best for statement
Q. Which of these TV channels, if any, do the following statements most apply to?
TV Can Inspire Change

13. Results From Channel 4’s Public Impact Survey
 Results from Channel 4’s recent Public Impact survey show that Channel 4 programmes in particular inspire
viewers to:
 Think differently about a subject
 Think about changing something in their own lives
 Try something new or different after watching
 Look for further information elsewhere
 And most of all, to talk to others about the programmes they have watched
 The survey measured 26 Channel 4 programmes from a range of genres in terms of how much they inspire
change. 20 of these 26 programmes inspired change in at least 70% of viewers.
 1 in 4 viewers of Kirsty’s Homemade Home tried something new or different after watching the
programme and almost 2 in 5 have looked for further information elsewhere after watching the show.
 2 in 5 River Cottage viewers tried something new or different as a result of watching, while 1 in 4 thought
about changing something in their lives.
 Sex Education Show vs Pornography and Supersize vs. Superskinny both inspired change among 4 in every
5 viewers.
 More than 1 in 4 viewers tried something new and different after watching Gok’s Fashion Fix

14. Marketing – Thinkbox & IAB
 Thinkbox is the television marketing body for the main UK commercial broadcasters - Channel
4, UKTV, GMTV, ITV, Sky Media, and Turner Media Innovations.
 Thinkbox work with the UK marketing community with a single ambition: to help customers get the best
out of television. TV today has more to offer advertisers than ever before not least as it remains at the
heart and soul of popular culture. From engagement with targeted audiences to innovative and
affordable solutions, TV is working to combine new technology and information to offer customers real
proof that we can help them achieve their marketing objectives.
 The Internet Advertising Bureau is a recognized trade body for the online marketing medium for the
internet marketing industry.
 With so much choice of information and such a fast pace of change,
the IAB is a trustworthy source of knowledge on Internet Marketing.
It provides users and members with research about the medium,
topical events, lunchtime seminars, a networking directory and much
more.

15. Channel Four – Website & 4OD
Channel Four is accessible 24/7 on demand. It
also has a website that viewers can access and
be informed about upcoming programmes and
watch Channel Four live.
Viewers can access programmes on 4 on demand
as well as on Channel Four’s YouTube page.

16. Channel 4 skews upmarket and female
16-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Men
Wome
n
ABC1
C2DE
Source: BARB/Techedge, Q2 2013
Audience Technologies &

17. 16-34
35-44
45-
54
55+
Men
Wome
n
ABC1
C2DE
E4 viewers are young and upmarket
Source: BARB/Techedge, Q2 2013
Audience Technologies &

18. 16-34
35-44
45-54
55+
ABC1
C2DE
Men
Wome
n
More4 viewers are older and
upmarket
Source: BARB/Techedge, Q2 2013
Audience Technologies &

19. 16-34
35-44
45-54
55+
ABC1
C2DE Women
Men
Film4 viewers are older and male
Source: BARB/Techedge, Q2 2013
Audience Technologies &

20. Men
Wome
n
ABC1
C2DE
16-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Box TV viewers are young and female
Source: BARB/Techedge, Q2 2013
Audience Technologies &