Channel 4 at 40

As the broadcaster turns 40, TVBEurope takes a look back at some of the key landmarks from its first 40 years

By Jenny Priestley

Published: November 2, 2022 Updated: November 3, 2022

As the broadcaster turns 40, TVBEurope takes a look back at some of the key landmarks from its first 40 years

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As Channel 4 reaches a milestone birthday, TVBEurope takes a look back at some of the key landmarks in the broadcaster's first 40 years.

1980s

1982 Test broadcasts start in August, with the channel officially launching across most of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on 2nd November. Countdown is the first show broadcast, the first night also includes the premiere of soap, Brookside.

On 8th November, Channel 4 broadcasts its first live sport, with coverage of a match from Division One of the National Basketball League.

1983 Channel 4 becomes first UK broadcaster to air the Super Bowl live.

1984 Channel 4 Racing launches.

1986 Animated graphics are seen during Teletext transmissions for the first time. This is made possible by transmitting 4-Tel on View from a disc rather than live.

1987 Channel 4 is made available across all of the UK transmitter network

1989 Begins broadcasting in in Nicam digital stereo, initially from the Crystal Palace transmitter, prior to a national transmitter-by-transmitter roll-out during 1990.

1990s

1992 Football Italia broadcasts for the first time. The Big Breakfast debuts.

1995 Hollyoaks premieres.

1997 Channel 4 starts broadcasting for 24 hours a day.

2000s

2000 Big Brother premieres.

2001 e4 launches as a pay channel.

2003 After 2,915 episodes and 21 years on air, the final edition of Brookside is broadcast.

2004 Channel 4 wins the rights to The Simpsons from the BBC.

2005 e4 becomes a free-to-air channel. More4 launches.

2006 On-demand service 4oD debuts. Channel 4 launches a HD service.

2010s

2010 -The final episode of Big Brother is aired on Channel 4. The show moves to Channel 5 a year later.

2012 Channel 4 broadcasts coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics.

2015 4oD is renamed All 4.

2016 Formula One airs on Channel 4 for the first time. Channel 4 Racing comes to an end after more than 32 years. Walter Presents, Channel 4's foreign-language drama streaming service debuts.

2017 The Great British Bake Off debuts on Channel 4 following its move from the BBC.

2018 Broadcaster announces what it describes as a global first in AI driven TV advertising technology that enables it to place a brand's ads next to relevant scenes in a linear TV show.

2020s

2020 Broadcasts the world's first night mode' TV ad break to mark World Sleep Day.

2021 Channel 4 opens its new Leeds headquarters following the broadcaster's announcement it would move out of London. UK government opens consultation on possibility of privatisation. Fire at Red Bee Media's playout centre takes channels off air, access service remain off air until November.

2022 Boris Johnson's government confirms plans to sell-off the broadcaster. However, following the UK's political turmoil that plan remains in limbo.

and in 2023, the broadcaster will rename All4 to Channel 4 as it becomes the first UK broadcaster to adopt one brand identity across its digital and linear channels.

LINK:	https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/channel-4-at-40...
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