Channel 4 is taking to YouTube for a new ‘digital-first brand’ aimed at 13–24-year-olds.
The new Channel 4.0 will go live on Wednesday 26 October and will have a dedicated space, both on YouTube and across social.
Featured series will star a host of established content creators, from Chunkz, Nella Rose and Alhan Gençay, to Spuddz, Mist and Dreya Mac as well as playful and unexpected collaborations. Channel 4.0 will also be a platform for the next generation of stars, both in front and behind the camera.
Channel 4 Head of Digital Commissioning, Sacha Khari said: “Channel 4.0 marks a new era for Channel 4 and is another significant piece of the Future4 strategy. Not only will Channel 4.0 be a place where established stars come to spread joy, genius and a bit of chaos, we’ll be scouting for the next generation of talent – creating opportunity both in front and behind the camera. We want to collaborate, elevate and enrich the great content already happening in this space, giving creators funding and another platform to authentically showcase their brilliance.”
The Channel 4 editorial leads on the project are Head of Digital Commissioning, Sacha Khari and Digital Commissioning Editor, Evie Buckley. Audience development, publishing and community engagement strategies are led by 4Studio, Channel 4’s social-first content and distribution powerhouse, which produces and partners with creators from across the UK to entertain young people with relevant content on their favourite social platforms.
BBC Three, which became online only in 2016 before returning earlier this year, continues to maintain its YouTube channel. It targets a wider audience of 16 to 34-year-olds and has 2.34 million subscribers on YouTube.