UPTO 200 hours of airtime is expected to be freed up on Channel 4 following a decision to axe its long-running Reality TV show, Big Brother.
And a “call to arms” has been issued to TV producers by the Channel’s head, to fill the gap.
Says The Guardian newspaper (here) the channel is about to undergo its “most fundamental creative overhaul” since its launching 27 years ago, including an extra £20 million a year for drama.
A re-focussing of Channel 4’s public service broadcasting remit is also expected to follow the ditching of Big Brother.
MediaGuardian quotes the channel’s head, Julian Bellamy, saying: “Big Brother will leave a huge hole and filling it will involve the most fundamental creative overhaul in our history.
“We have 18 months to transform the schedule. Today’s announcement is our biggest-ever creative call to arms to producers to come forward with their very best ideas.”
