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Channel 4: Difference between revisions
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The fourth British television network and second commercial network, after the two [[The BBC|BBC]] channels and [[ITV]]; also one of the big five UK TV channels to have been available free to air before the start of digital broadcasting. When British TV switched to UHF in the 1970s four frequencies were allocated to each transmitting site, but political wranglings kept the fourth channel vacant for many years.
Not to be confused with [[
Eventually, in 1982, Channel 4 was created by the Government to break the duopoly of [[The BBC]] and [[ITV]], with a mandate to produce innovative, distinctive and arty programs. The initiative arrived just in time to take the final coveted terrestrial space (until years later when the development of technology allowed the creation of [[Channel Five]]).
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It is publicly owned like the BBC but unlike the BBC it does not get public funding. Until 1992 it was funded by the ITV companies, who in turn sold advertising on the channel. Since then it has been independent, funded by its own advertising revenue.
In its early years it was mocked as "Channel Bore" for its perceived ultra-intellectual high-culture slant, and also mocked for its early red triangle on-screen graphic warning for potentially disturbing material, which many people viewed as a euphemism for Euroshlock. During the 1990s it moved in a more ratings-driven direction and came under sustained attack by [[Moral Guardians]] as "Channel Swore" or "pornographers to the nation" for the sexually-explicit and sexually libertarian nature of some of its comedy and drama programmes, including the debauched light-entertainment shows ''The Word'' and ''Eurotrash'' and the pioneering prime-time gay drama ''[[Queer
It now exists as a number of channels on cable and digital as well.
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4's most famous show was the first one shown when it began transmitting- ''[[Countdown]]''.
It has been the UK licensee of some significant US shows over the years, especially Fox and HBO ones, including ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', ''[[Homicide: Life
Its ''Channel 4 News'' is traditionally viewed as the most liberal and anti-establishment of the major UK channels' news broadcasts, within the tight boundaries laid down by UK regulators on overt partisanship in TV news.
It has also been a significant producer or co-producer of films (both British and international) since the early 1980's through its subsidiary Film4 Productions. Among them:
* ''[[
* ''[[
* ''[[Borat]]''
* ''[[Dancer in
* ''[[Dogma]]'' (with [[Kevin Smith
* ''[[In Bruges]]'' (with Focus Features)
* ''[[The Last King of Scotland]]''
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[[Category:Networks]]
[[Category:British Media Tropes]]
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