Channel 4 prepares biggest job cuts in broadcaster’s history
September 9, 2026 12.03 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Channel 4 is preparing to cut around 300 jobs, with the final figure expected to reach between 300 and 325 roles, according to a report by The Guardian, in what would be the biggest redundancy programme in the broadcaster’s 43-year history.

The broadcaster is expected to reduce its workforce by around a quarter as part of a wide-ranging review led by chief executive Priya Dogra, who took up the role in March. Dogra was due to outline the proposed restructuring at an all-staff meeting on Wednesday

According to The Guardian, the savings will come from both job reductions and wider operational efficiencies, with London expected to bear the brunt of the cuts following Channel 4’s recent expansion of staff numbers in the nations and regions. The public broadcaster – which receives no income from the licence fee – employed an average of 1,276 people in 2025, according to its latest annual report.

The report also says Dogra is expected to reshape Channel 4’s commissioning strategy, focusing on commissioning fewer programmes while investing more heavily in titles with the greatest audience potential and increasing marketing support. The intention is understood to be to minimise pressure on the content budget, which totalled £640 million last year, including £480 million spent on UK original programming.

The move comes after Channel 4 reported its third consecutive annual loss, posting a pre-tax deficit of £10 million for 2025. The broadcaster continues to face pressure from a weak television advertising market and growing competition from digital platforms for advertising revenue.

A Channel 4 spokesperson declined to comment on the reported job losses, saying only that the organisation had been reviewing its “strategic direction, including a comprehensive review of the structure, shape and size of our organisation”, and that staff would be informed before any public announcement.