Leeds has been chosen ahead of Birmingham and Manchester as the new regional headquarters for Channel 4.
Leeds has been chosen ahead of Birmingham and Manchester as the new regional headquarters for Channel 4.
The three cities were in the final shortlist for the HQ, with Manchester regarded as the hot favourites. However, chief executive Alex Mahon and the Channel 4 board have chosen Leeds and about 300 jobs are now expected to move there from London.
Bristol and Glasgow are to be the location of two smaller creative hubs.
The announcement follows the second stage of the pitch process during June and July, in which teams from Channel 4 – including Chief Executive Alex Mahon, Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Allan and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Dan Brooke – visited 13 shortlisted cities and regions for presentations and discussions.
Detailed discussions with six selected cities – the trio shortlisted for the main HQ and three others for smaller satellite hubs – took place over the summer, led by Allan.
“Leeds put forward a compelling and ambitious strategy for how they could work alongside Channel 4 to further build the strong independent production sector in the city and develop new diverse talent from across the region.
Locating our National HQ in Leeds enables us to capitalise on a strong and fast-growing independent production sector in cities across the North of England – and also has the potential to unlock growth in the North East and East of the country, an area without a major presence from other national broadcasters!” Chief Executive Alex Mahon