UK’s Channel 4 has set up a mobile division as a separate commissioning department and is “now looking to the independent production community to come up with content ideas for commissioning in the same way as TV shows”. This could make the TV station one of the most important players in the British mobile content market… Channel 4 is a publically-owned commercial-funded TV station with a remit that includes “demonstrate innovation, experimentation and creativity”, which seems to fit mobile.
Although the station will look to transfer hit TV shows to the mobile it is looking for some “big ideas” that aren’t related to broadcast content, and is planning a big roll-out. It’s also looking for mobile entertainment content other than just video…
An interesting statement: “The establishment of a separate commissioning budget is a significant step in mobile’s move towards becoming a separate content medium.”
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