C4

History of Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began transmission on 2 November 1982. It is largely self funded through commercials. Britain had three television services BBC, BBC 2 and ITV then there was talk of adding a fourth, and in 1982 Channel 4 and its counterpart S4C were created. Control was switched from Channel Four Television Company to the Channel Four Television Corporation in 1993 and they focused on what was mainstream. In the early 2000s, Channel 4 began broadcasting reality programmes like Big Brother and obtained the rights to broadcast sporting events like cricket and horse racing, this increased ratings. In 31 December 2004, Channel 4 launched a new look and new idents in which the logo is different objects and the 4 can be seen at a certain angle. In 2005 e4 came free to view on terrestrial TV they also launched a new channel called more 4. in November 2009, they held a 3d TV week and they gave out pairs of 3d glasses at Sainsbury.

Types of programmes Channel 4- Documentaries, drama, entertainment, food, history- Big brother, the grand national are 2 of the most popular TV shows on channel 4 E4- Comedy, drama- the inbetweeners, glee and the big bang theory are 3 of the most watched programmes on E4 More 4 – reality, food- this channel shows programmes like four in a bed, come dine with me, Jamie’s 15 minute meals and location, location, location. Film 4- this show didn’t used to show blockbusters but now shows lots of mainstream films. 4 music- this shows the music charts as well as interviews with music artits, and it also has music videos played

Issues & Controversies Minipops (1983) - this was a show that channel 4 put on showing children singing chart topping songs but was targeted for putting girls in adult clothes and make them do provocative dances. The second series was cancelled because of this. Red Triangle (1986) – Channel 4 showed 18 rated films late at night. It featured films such as Themroc which showed sexual scenes and cannibalism. This was discontinued shortly. Brookside Kiss (1993) – The Liverpool-set soap began in 1982 causing controversy from the start with its hard-hitting storylines. There was then a lesbian kiss shown before the watershed which was the first scene of its kind. Russian roulette (2003) – 3 million viewers watched Derren Brown do his controversial Russian Roulette stunt in October 2003. Complaints were that it promoted gun culture and the police said that it might encourage copy cats but then it was reported that they were blanks . Big Brother Race Row (2007) – The alleged racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by her fellow Celebrity Big Brother housemates provoked an international incident.

Channel 4 Idents Bowling, December 31 2004 City, December 31 2004 Diner, December 31 2004 Road Signs, December 31 2004 Pylons, December 31 2004 Corn Field, December 31 2004 Alien, December 31 2004