Commercial Affairs
Commercial Affairs is big on detail where it matters. It’s here to make sure everything we do, or is done in our name is done properly. This means supporting our subsidiaries and joint ventures, as well as the main channel.

The Rights Department focuses on clearing programmes; programme support materials; online commissions; trailers; and interstitial materials. It manages talent agreements; royalty collection and payments; copyright deals; the acquisition of programme rights outside terms of trade; and the flow of programme rights into Channel 4 services and businesses. Looking after the many information and reporting systems that support these activities also falls within its remit.

Legal & Compliance
An organisation like ours requires expert advice on a broad range of issues, from media law and editorial ethics to regulatory compliance. Can we do it? Should we do it? And if we do do it, how should it be done? These are just some of the questions that our award-winning Legal & Compliance Team is called upon to answer.

The Channel 4 Legal & Compliance department is renowned in the industry for providing clear, robust and enabling advice to independent producers, commissioning editors and the Channel’s Executive Team and Board of Directors.

All content-related legal and compliance issues, whether it’s in the making and broadcast of programmes or publishing of content on Channel 4 platforms, are dealt with here. They guide us on editorial ethics and best practice. When we want to take a risk, they enable our commissioning and production teams to deliver. It’s thanks to them that we’ve been able to create and broadcast some of our most challenging and inspiring content. Our ability to deliver against our remit to innovate, reflect diversity, inspire change and champion alternative points of view is underpinned by the sheer depth, breadth and quality of their expertise.

It is against the backdrop of the guidelines and protocols drawn up by Legal and Compliance that programmes and series are made. They train our own internal staff and support independent production companies in their endeavours. They fight our corner when the need arises and defend our point of view; they lobby to protect our interests in the face of legal and regulatory changes.