Channel 4’s streaming performance continued to outpace the market in 2024, with views up 13% to a record 1.8 billion and streaming now accounting for 18% of total viewing, significantly ahead of other UK commercial Public Service Broadcasters.
Part of the Channel 4 Fast Forward Strategy is for 30% of total viewing to come from streaming by 2030.
The platform also maintains the youngest audience profile, with 16-34-year-olds making up nearly a quarter of all viewing.
Publishing its 2024 financial statements, Channel 4 said total revenues has increased by 1%. The £1.04 billion taking it over the billion mark for a fourth consecutive year.
On social platforms, UK YouTube views rose 26% to 340 million, with full-episode viewing up 169%. Youth-focused channel Channel 4.0 doubled its views, while new growth on TikTok and Instagram highlighted the success of its social-first strategy.
Earlier this week, Channel 4 announced it would become the first UK broadcaster to bring video programming to Spotify, bringing long-form video content to millions of new UK users on the world’s leading audio platform.
Digital ad revenues rose 9% to £306 million, accounting for 30% of total revenue – double the market average and ahead of 2025 targets.
“In 2024, Channel 4 showed how powerfully our public service model can evolve and thrive in a changing world. Fast Forward is delivering – creatively, digitally, and commercially. I’m incredibly proud of what we are achieving. Channel 4’s purpose has never been more vital, and I leave confident that the organisation will continue to disrupt, challenge and drive the national conversation for years to come. It is a noisy, vital and extraordinary part of the public service media ecosystem and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead it.”
Alex Mahon will step down in July and Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Allan will take over as Interim CEO.
Channel 4 also announced a new plan to invest in Intellectual Property ownership. This twin-track approach incorporates a phased move into in-house production and the launch of Channel 4’s new Creative Investment Fund. The changes are accompanied by an increased quota from the independent production sector that rises from 25% to 35%.
Channel 4 reported total revenues of £1.04 billion in 2024, with digital advertising hitting £306 million – achieving its 2025 target of 30% digital revenues a year early. Non-linear revenues now account for 39% of the total, reflecting strong progress in its Fast Forward transformation.
A focus on operational efficiency reduced the pre-tax deficit before exceptional items by £50 million to just £2 million. The organisation closed the year with £111 million in cash and no debt drawn.
£643 million was invested in content, including £489 million in originated UK programming – representing 62% of total revenue and a higher proportion of spend than any competitor. Nations and Regions spend rose 4% to £200 million, reinforcing Channel 4’s commitment to creative investment across the UK.
Creative and content success
Channel 4’s creative output in 2024 combined scale, public impact, and critical acclaim, reinforcing its unique role in the UK’s media landscape.
The organisation won 106 major awards – including BAFTAs, International Emmys, Grierson Awards, and multiple wins at the RTS and Broadcast Awards – demonstrating its unique remit as the UK’s boldest, most distinctive public service media organisation.
Factual and reality content stood out. Breakthrough hits such as The Jury: Murder Trial and To Catch a Copper combined scale with societal impact and critical acclaim. Returning hits like The Piano captivated nearly 10 million viewers and earned back-to-back awards, while Married at First Sight UK delivered its biggest series ever, outperforming Love Island and Big Brother.
Channel 4 News had a landmark year, securing 1.8 billion digital views (+49%). It won several awards for its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict and war in Ukraine, while Dispatches won Scoop of the Year for Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.
Across drama and comedy, Channel 4 pushed boundaries with hits including The Gathering, Big Mood, and Big Boys. Looking ahead, Channel 4 has assembled its most ambitious drama slate yet, with new titles from Russell T Davies, Daisy Haggard, and Jack Thorne. From 2026, a new original drama will premiere every month.
Meanwhile, Channel 4’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games reached nearly 20 million viewers, combining record accessibility with powerful representation – including 91% disabled on-screen talent and the first ever deaf presenter of a live TV sports programme.
Finally, Film4 also enjoyed a standout year. Poor Things and The Zone of Interest won six Oscars altogether. And alongside Savanah Leaf’s debut Earth Mama and How to Have Sex’s Mia McKenna Bruce, who won the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, Film4 collectively took home nine BAFTAs, reinforcing its role as a launchpad for bold storytelling and new British talent.
Strong remit delivery
Channel 4’s Annual Report 2024 was welcomed by Ofcom, which highlighted a ‘solid performance’ across linear and streaming, and noted strong delivery on innovation, distinctiveness and creativity.
Ofcom also commended Channel 4’s progress under Fast Forward and its growing engagement with younger audiences, stating: “The latest phase of Channel 4’s evolution presents opportunities […] to lead the organisation in connecting with a new generation of viewers and strengthening Channel 4’s position as a highly distinctive and risk-taking broadcaster.”
