According to Lygo, the thinking behind the changes, which take effect in January, was to refresh Channel 4’s programming slate, not replace it with worthy documentaries.
While populist shows that have been axed from the main channel include Brat Camp, You Are What You Eat and Celebrity Big Brother, Lygo stressed that the new programme line-up should also attract a large audience. “The idea is to try new things,” he said.
Lygo added that the channel would continue to hunt for new entertainment formats and pointed to the eco format Dumped (which aired on Sunday attracting 2.4 million viewers) as an example of content working well for the broadcaster.
Also new on Channel 4’s January menu is a season that looks at why we eat what we eat, which Lygo hopes will be “attention grabbing and popular”.
Fronted by Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the strand will run every night over a period of two weeks.
The content head also has high hopes for a planned live event version of Grand Designs (the only series to escape the 9pm cull) and a big-budget historical murder series also running early next year.
Lygo quashed rumours that Big Brother would be axed or only run on E4 next year, suffering the same fate as its celebrity offshoot.
“Big Brother will definitely be back for another year – on the main channel and not just on E4. It’s still our most popular programme and does a great job for the channel during summer,” he said.
Media agencies, however, are approaching the “new look” schedule with caution.
Over the seven months to July, Channel 4’s overall impacts have fallen by 5.4% and many feel that the broadcaster needs to keep its ratings winners.
As Azon Howie, head of broadcast at Carat, said: “It’s a brave move, but Celebrity Big Brother is going to have a huge impact on January viewing figures. That show accounted for 23% of all C4 viewing last January.”
He continued: “You have to assume whatever you put in place will do half as well – that’s a double digit decrease in value for advertisers.”
While populist shows that have been axed from the main channel include Brat Camp, You Are What You Eat and Celebrity Big Brother, Lygo stressed that the new programme line-up should also attract a large audience. “The idea is to try new things,” he said.
Lygo added that the channel would continue to hunt for new entertainment formats and pointed to the eco format Dumped (which aired on Sunday attracting 2.4 million viewers) as an example of content working well for the broadcaster.
Also new on Channel 4’s January menu is a season that looks at why we eat what we eat, which Lygo hopes will be “attention grabbing and popular”.
Fronted by Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the strand will run every night over a period of two weeks.
The content head also has high hopes for a planned live event version of Grand Designs (the only series to escape the 9pm cull) and a big-budget historical murder series also running early next year.
Lygo quashed rumours that Big Brother would be axed or only run on E4 next year, suffering the same fate as its celebrity offshoot.
“Big Brother will definitely be back for another year – on the main channel and not just on E4. It’s still our most popular programme and does a great job for the channel during summer,” he said.
Media agencies, however, are approaching the “new look” schedule with caution.
Over the seven months to July, Channel 4’s overall impacts have fallen by 5.4% and many feel that the broadcaster needs to keep its ratings winners.
As Azon Howie, head of broadcast at Carat, said: “It’s a brave move, but Celebrity Big Brother is going to have a huge impact on January viewing figures. That show accounted for 23% of all C4 viewing last January.”
He continued: “You have to assume whatever you put in place will do half as well – that’s a double digit decrease in value for advertisers.”
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