From today (May 14), Channel4.com brings an ‘app-like’ Channel 4 streaming experience to mobiles, tablets, laptops and other connected devices, as it becomes the “world’s first public service streamer.”
The upgrades reflect Gen Z’s growing desire to watch Channel 4 on multiple screens, and advance Channel 4’s unique role in serving young audiences.
Last year, nearly one million 13-24’s streamed Channel 4 via a PC or a laptop, with such viewing so far up 17% year-on-year in 2024. 16-34s are the biggest single cohort (49%) of Channel4.com streamers, with Gen Z representing 20% of the accounts that viewed Channel4.com according to the broadcaster’s analysis.
The new additions to Channel4.com’s offer focus on increasing engagement with this growing cohort of young audiences and creating a better experience for this generation of digital natives across multiple Channel 4 platforms.
Updates to Channel4.com include:
• show-led design, with each page packed with wide-screen video and stand-out imagery to make hit shows easier to find.
• a viewing experience which mirrors what streamers expect from apps, with easy to browse episode grids tailored for viewing on the go.
• as part of its commitment to an inclusive experience for all, the streaming player now features better audio description, sign-language and sub-titles signposting, plus improved navigation.
• Improved guidance options around ratings, accessibility, and stream definition.
All Channel 4 streamers – whether they access via channel4.com or one of its apps – can also now enjoy improved personalised recommendations, based on Channel 4’s distinctive remit and viewers’ tastes.
Changes include the ordering of content, blending Channel 4’s recommendations with streamers’ viewing history, plus a ‘recency boost’, where show recommendations prioritise recently watched shows.
Across Channel 4 streaming over the coming months, viewers can look forward to an evolving content line-up tailor-made for streaming. Channel 4 streamers can expect more standout shows such as highly anticipated drama The Gathering, must-watch comedy Queenie, hard-hitting documentary Merseyside Detectives (w/t), and, much-talked-about reality hit Married At First Sight.
Channel 4 streaming will also bring more of the biggest hits from overseas, offering audience favourites such as US classics ER and The X Files, reality shows like Dance Moms and new premium scripted boxsets like The Great.
Channel 4 streaming will drop more box sets including We Are Lady Parts (series 2), debut more first-looks on streaming such as Hollyoaks, and,more streaming exclusives such as Murder of Laci Peterson and UNTOLD: The Rise and Rise of Taylor Swift coming soon.
Kiran Nataraja, director of streaming and content strategy, Channel 4, said: “Channel 4 streamers can look forward to a content line-up that’s distinctive, entertaining and truly stands out – with our commissions reflecting our Britishness, purpose and irreverent attitude that speaks to young audiences.
“We’re also going to give audiences a more seamless, connected and accessible viewing experience across all of Channel 4’s services and platforms. These enhancements support our plan to become the first public service streamer.”
