CHANNEL 4 EXTEND NEWS CONTRACT WITH ITN

ITN have secured the contract to continue supplying Channel 4 with its News until the end of 2003.
The current contract, which began in January 1999, was for two and a half years with the option to extend for a further two and a half years which Channel 4 have now exercised.
Channel 4 News Editor Jim Gray said: “This is a tremendous vote of confidence in our journalists and production team. The programme has gone from strength to strength and won several more awards last year.”
ITN Chief Executive, Stewart Purvis, said: “ITN has produced Channel 4 News since the channel’s launch in 1982. This extension means that ITN’s long-standing relationship with Channel 4 is set to continue. While we expand the company’s activities across digital and new media platforms our terrestrial television contracts remain at the core of our business.”
The year 2000 was particularly busy and successful for Channel 4 News with the launch of a new Sunday bulletin in January, which saw the programme air seven days a week for the first time in its 18 year history. The viewing figures also saw strong growth with a year on year increase of 15 per cent.
David Lloyd, Channel 4 Head of News and Current Affairs, said: “Channel 4 News has established itself as truly the most original and intelligent news programme on television thanks to the creative approach of Jim Gray and his team. This, in combination with an impressive 15 per cent rise in the Channel 4 News audience last year, leaves me in no doubt that ITN should retain the current Channel 4 News contract until 2003”
Since its launch in 1982 Channel 4 News has won over 80 awards. In 2000 alone the programme received awards from The Royal Television Society, One World Media Awards, the Industrial Society, and collected the award for Business Journalist of the Year. (CMcL)