Ian Katz, Channel 4‘s longest-serving chief content material officer, is stepping down from the place after virtually 9 years. Katz will depart the function in October.
Throughout his tenure, Katz performed an integral function in Channel 4’s transformation from a linear community to a streaming service. Beneath his watch, streaming elevated from 20% to 50% of all Channel 4 viewing. He has additionally overseen an acclaimed slate of programming, together with favorites like “Taskmaster” — which Katz dropped at the broadcaster — “Gogglebox” and “The Nice British Bake Off,” in addition to current hits like “Virgin Island,” “Soiled Enterprise” and “A Girl of Substance.”
Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra mentioned in a press release: “Ian has been an impressive artistic chief for Channel 4 over almost 9 years — the channel’s longest-serving head of programming. He has overseen an period of artistic renewal, delivering daring and distinctive public service programming with mental rigor, good humor and an unmistakably Channel 4 glint within the eye. He shall be significantly missed, however I’m delighted that he’ll stay with us for some months but, persevering with to steer our artistic output, commissioning choices and supply of the 2026 slate.”
“It’s been a privilege past phrases to steer Channel 4’s proficient and passionate commissioning workforce via such a transformative interval,” Katz mentioned. “I’m extremely happy with what we’ve achieved, from pioneering the evolution of a industrial public service broadcaster right into a digital streaming enterprise, to backing groundbreaking packages and expertise which have introduced a little bit of pleasure to viewers’s lives. Above all I’m proud that Channel 4 has continued to be as disruptive and impertinent as ever, asking the questions and overlaying the tales that different broadcasters and streamers gained’t. The channel’s 2026 slate is stronger than ever, and I look ahead to watching its continued success below Priya’s management.”
