'Panic' at Channel 4 as viewing figures plummet to a historic low

‘Panic’ at Channel 4 as viewing figures plummet to a historic low after station ‘bloodbath’ saw popular shows axed or delayed due to a financial crisis

Channel 4’s viewing figures plummeted to a record low in May as the station struggles with a financial crisis. 

The free-to-air channel pulled in a measly 4.48 percent audience share last month – the worst four-week figure in its 40-year history, Deadline reports. 

The shocking figure is said to have sparked ‘panic’ behind the scenes, one source claimed, yet another stated that bosses have been focusing on the positive boost in their online viewership – which saw streaming figures up 20 percent compared to last year. 

Yet solely digital success is unlikely to be enough to sustain the company given that linear advertising accounts for more than 70 percent of its £1 billion revenue.

News of the ratings slump comes as Channel 4 staff have spoken out of a behind-the-scenes ‘bloodbath’ in which popular shows have been axed or delayed. 

Slumped: Channel 4’s viewing figures plummeted to a record low in May as the station struggles with a financial crisis

The Mail on Sunday recently revealed that staff are in ‘shock’ at the recent events which has seen shows like big-money celebrity flop, Scared Of The Dark and groundbreaking medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics, axed.

The much publicised return of reality series Four Weddings has also been scrapped, though a team from an independent production company had been commissoned to make it.

Staff on fixed contracts to work on the programme were immediately laid off, with some now worrying about how they will pay their rent.

The axing of popular shows is due to Channel 4 running out of money to fund them – despite its boss Alex Mahon earning £1.2 million last year.

Friday night favourite The Last Leg, one of the channel’s most popular shows hosted by Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, is set to have the length of its next series cut to save money.

The 28th series is due to return this month for a nine-week run but production bosses have been told that the channel can only afford to have it on air for seven weeks.

Channel 4 has instructed lawyers to thrash out deals with heads of production companies to get out of contracts for shows which are worth millions of pounds, meaning it has been left with expensive legal bills and exit fees.

Tough: The Mail on Sunday revealed that staff at the channel are calling it a ‘bloodbath’ as shows including big-money celebrity flop Scared Of The Dark (pictured) have all been canned

The crisis comes after Ms Mahon and her colleague Ian Katz fought off a Government plan to privatise it, with one of their arguments being that it funds independent production companies nationwide.

A source told The Mail on Sunday that the channel believes it is better to cut its losses. But staff blame Mr Katz for wasting money on expensive but little-watched shows such as reality series Rise And Fall, which is understood to have cost the channel £14 million – money which could not be justified because of its low ratings.

One insider said: ‘Everyone is calling it a Channel 4 bloodbath.

‘At first everyone was in total shock when Four Weddings was cancelled.

‘It’s almost unheard of that a show that is going really well is decommissioned, but as news started to spread, other shows were falling down too.

‘They were told that Ian Katz had been looking at the channel’s entire output, and they were sorry but it had to happen because there was no money.

‘The casting team were already in place to start on Naked Attraction and were all told they were no longer needed as they were not making another series.

‘They tried to lessen the blow to the show’s freelance crew by saying they hope to make another series in December, but that doesn’t help them now.’

Despite the reports that Naked Attraction had been cancelled, a representative for Channel 4 denied this saying: ‘Naked Attraction has not been decommissioned and a new series will return to Channel 4 next year.

‘Scared of the Dark enjoyed a celebrated first season with excellent linear and streaming performance.

‘Channel 4 is in robust health – however like all commercial broadcasters we’re taking some precautionary measures – such as rephrasing some content and production – in response to a downturn in the ad-market.

‘The vast majority of our shows have not been affected.’

Ms Mahon and Mr Katz announced last week that they have deferred taking bonuses worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and scrapped a planned pay rise, amid the crisis.

Denial: Despite the reports that Naked Attraction had been cancelled, a representative for Channel 4 denied this saying: ‘Naked Attraction has not been decommissioned and a new series will return to Channel 4 next year’

However, one Channel 4 employee said: ‘It’s only because they have had to.’

A spokesman for the network said: ‘Channel 4 cares deeply about the Indie community and our wider supply chain of freelancers. They are the beating heart of our business. 

‘While we recognise the actions we are asking of some are causing some short-term pain, the plan we have in place underscores our ongoing commitment to our financial sustainability and our continued support of the UK’s independent production sector

‘The Executive Directors have already made the decision to defer retention payments and earlier this year declined a salary rise as part of a wider response to a very difficult ad-market in Q2, which is affecting all commercial broadcasters.’

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