Channel 4 : The Early Years and the Jeremy Isaacs Legacy

In November 2007, Channel 4 will be twenty-five years old. Today, such TV events as the ‘Big Brother/Jade Goody Affair’ have put the channel itself at the centre of public debate. Yet during its foundation years on British screens, Channel 4 was seen as more controversial and dangerous than this. Published for Channel 4’s 25th anniversary, this book explores the channel’s most important foundation period, under its inspirational first Chief Executive, Jeremy Isaacs. Charged by Parliament to be innovative, experimental, and educational, the new channel had to attract audiences and make a space for new voices. Did it fulfill its brief? It also assesses the legacy of the channel and asks: has it changed the nature of British television, and has the enfant terrible grown up, or is it still a youthful rebel? Dorothy Hobson had unique access to Channel 4 and the team involved in developing it, the ITV companies and fledgling independent producers over its foundation years. Accessibly written, her book uses the words and stories of those involved, and vividly reviews the new channel’s successes, problems, adversities, as well as audiences’ and press responses to television’s new baby and its programmes. This Title Explores Channel 4's Important Foundation Period, Under Its Inspirational First Chief Executive, Jeremy Isaacs. It Also Assesses The Legacy Of The Channel And Asks: Has It Changed The Nature Of British Television? Preface -- 1 Birth Of The Channel -- 2 Television's New Baby -- The First Three Months Are The Worst -- 3 The Players -- Inside The Channel 1.commissioning Editors -- People And Progress -- 4 The Players -- Inside The Channel 2. Managing Creativity -- 5 The Players -- Outside Channel 4 And The Itv Companies: Whose Baby? -- 6 A Kaleidoscope Of Programmes -- 7 Channel 4 And Its Audience -- 8 1987 -- A Year Of Change -- 9 Jeremy Isaacs' Legacy And Channel 4 Today -- Bibliography -- Index. Dorothy Hobson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In 1982, Channel 4 burst onto British television screens. Charged by Parliament to appeal to tastes and interests not generally catered for by ITV, to be innovative, experimental, and educational, the new channel had to attract audiences and make a space for new voices. Did it fulfill its brief? Published on the 25th Anniversary of Channel 4, this book tells the story of its early years under Jeremy Isaacs, its inspirational--and fundamental--first Chief Executive. Italso assesses the legacy of the channel and asks: has it changed the nature of British television, and has the enfant terrible grown up, or is it still a youthful rebel? In 1982, Channel 4 burst onto British television screens. Charged by Parliament to appeal to tastes and interests not generally catered for by ITV, to be innovative, experimental, and educational, the new channel had to attract audiences and make a space for new voices. Did it fulfill its brief? Published on the 25th Anniversary of Channel 4, this book tells the story of its early years under Jeremy Isaacs, its inspirational--and fundamental--first Chief Executive. It also assesses the legacy of the channel and has it changed the nature of British television, and has the enfant terrible grown up, or is it still a youthful rebel? On 2 November 1982, Channel 4 burst onto British television screens. Charged by Parliament to be innovative experimental and educational, the new channel had to attract new audiences and make a space for new voices. Did it fulfil its brief? Published on Channel 4's twenty-fifth birthday, this book tells the story of its early years under Jeremy Isaacs, its inspirational and fundamental - first Chief Executive. It also assesses the legacy of the channel and asks: has it changed the nature of British television, and has the enfant terrible grown up, or is it still a youthful rebel? Dorothy Hobson had unique access to Channel 4 and the team involved in developing the channel over its foundation years. The ITV companies and fledgling independent producers are also part of this story. Accessibly written, her book uses the words of those involved and vividly reviews the channel's successes, problems and adversities, as well as audiences' and press responses to television's new baby and its programmes