‘Ridiculous' for Channel 4 to start making in-house TV shows, says Sony
Wayne Garvie, the president of international production at Sony Pictures Television, whose company is behind Netflix hit Cobra Kai and Starz series Outlander, told the Media and Telecoms 2025 and Beyond Conference in London on Tuesday that Channel 4's plan is 'ridiculous' and 'it won't work'.
Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon (Ian West/PA)
He added that those 'who run in-house production businesses' know that when you start 'you lose money for the first three years'.
He claimed that Channel 4 is doing this without owning many intellectual rights or having an 'institutional knowledge of how to run a production business'.
Mr Garvie said: 'It could be potentially disastrous for Channel 4, because it's got limited resources. It's got to adapt to a change in (the) broadcast market.'
However, he did praise outgoing Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon with helping the broadcaster continue, but pointed out that even with 'good people' it is going to take half a decade to make money.
Mr Garvie said the UK having multiple public broadcasters is 'unsustainable', and added: 'The future has got to be, surely, Channel 4 and the BBC coming together, and that should be the focus for a new chair of Channel 4 (who replaces Sir Ian Cheshire).'
Responding later in the day, Ms Mahon said: 'Wayne was a bit excitable this morning, wasn't he?'
She added: 'The good news is that Channel 4 has a sensible, modest, intelligent plan for in-house production, but I do agree with Wayne that it's not easy… to be a producer.'
Ms Mahon also dismissed a 'coming together' of the BBC and Channel 4, saying the UK has 'such a strong public service broadcasting ecosystem' because of the 'plurality and competition'.
She added: 'I think there are ways that we should all operate together, and Freely is the best example of that, but we also shouldn't believe that by popping us all together in one service, we would end up with more impact on the audience.'
Sir Ian Cheshire, the outgoing Channel 4 executive (Ofcom/PA)
Netflix's vice president of content for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Larry Tanz, dismissed that the streaming giant would not have commissioned Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, at the event, which is hosted by Enders Analysis and Deloitte at Convene Sancroft in the St Paul's area.
'(Vice president of UK Content at Netflix) Anne Mensah, and her team in the UK, commissioned Adolescence, Baby Reindeer and Toxic Town for the UK audience first and foremost,' he said.
'Maybe I can finally put that to rest here and say we absolutely would have commissioned Mr Bates in the UK if we had the opportunity, we think our audience would have loved it.'
It follows Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky, who has pushed for a levy on streaming companies to finance public broadcasters, which include ITV, BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Mr Kosminsky told the BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that Adolescence, which explores themes such as incel culture and bullying and has been a global hit for Netflix, is a 'fantastic programme', but the streaming giant would not make the show if it was not successful outside the UK.
He claimed that streamers would not make issue-led dramas such as Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and Hillsborough as they are too British-focused, and voiced concerns that public broadcasters do not have the money to finance such commissions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
17 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Michael Mosley's family reflect on one year since TV doctor's death
Mosley, who died aged 67 while on holiday with his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley on the Greek island of Symi last year, was known for popularising diets and fronting science programmes. His wife wrote on Instagram: 'It's hard to believe that a year has passed since we lost Michael. Not a day goes by without thinking of him – his warmth, his laughter, his endless curiosity about the world, and his deep love for our family. 'This past year has been the hardest of our lives. Navigating the loss of someone so central to our hearts and our home has changed everything. We have missed him in the big moments and the small ones. But we have also felt incredibly supported. 'The outpouring of love, stories and memories from so many of you has meant more than we can ever say. We have taken real comfort in knowing just how many lives Michael touched – not only through his work, but through his kindness, humour, and deep desire to help people live well for longer.' The message thanked 'everyone who has reached out, shared their grief, and carried us with their compassion, thank you. Your messages, letters and acts of remembrance have helped us through the darkest days.' It continued: 'We are trying, as a family to look forward. To carry on the work Michael was so passionate about. To live with purpose and joy, as he would have wanted us to.' 'With love and deepest gratitude, Clare and the Mosley family.' Last month, the family set up a research project to honour his memory, announcing that a new clinical research fellowship will be established in partnership with King's College London and the Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF) to help improve the nation's metabolic health. The Mosleys have been working with King's College London and the CDRF, who will administer the Michael Mosley Memorial Research Fund, to appoint a dedicated research scientist. Mosley, known for fronting BBC and Channel 4 documentaries on health and diet, popularised the 5:2 diet, a form of intermittent fasting, through his book The Fast Diet. Michael Mosley died in 2024 (BBC/PA) His son Dr Jack Mosley, a GP registrar, who researched GLP-1 drug brands including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound with his father, has also written a book titled Food Noise: How Weight Loss Medication And Smart Nutrition Can Silence Your Cravings. In December, a coroner said Mosley's death was 'indeterminate' and 'unascertainable', adding that it 'was most likely attributable either to heatstroke (accidental) or non-identified pathological cause'. Mosley had presented BBC Radio 4's Just One Thing, and the BBC series Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain. He would regularly push his body during various programmes, and in a 2014 documentary he ingested tapeworms for six weeks. In a 2015 programme he made two black puddings out of his own blood to showcase its nutritional value. The BBC honoured the doctor-turned-science broadcaster with a day dedicated to him in July 2024, when presenters and audiences where encouraged to do 'just one thing' to improve their wellbeing. His wife Clare accepted the Hall of Fame Award at the British Podcast Awards on his behalf in September 2024.
Leader Live
35 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Michael Mosley's family reflect on one year since TV doctor's death
Mosley, who died aged 67 while on holiday with his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley on the Greek island of Symi last year, was known for popularising diets and fronting science programmes. His wife wrote on Instagram: 'It's hard to believe that a year has passed since we lost Michael. Not a day goes by without thinking of him – his warmth, his laughter, his endless curiosity about the world, and his deep love for our family. A post shared by Dr Clare Bailey Mosley (@drclarebaileymosley) 'This past year has been the hardest of our lives. Navigating the loss of someone so central to our hearts and our home has changed everything. We have missed him in the big moments and the small ones. But we have also felt incredibly supported. 'The outpouring of love, stories and memories from so many of you has meant more than we can ever say. We have taken real comfort in knowing just how many lives Michael touched – not only through his work, but through his kindness, humour, and deep desire to help people live well for longer.' The message thanked 'everyone who has reached out, shared their grief, and carried us with their compassion, thank you. Your messages, letters and acts of remembrance have helped us through the darkest days.' It continued: 'We are trying, as a family to look forward. To carry on the work Michael was so passionate about. To live with purpose and joy, as he would have wanted us to.' 'With love and deepest gratitude, Clare and the Mosley family.' Last month, the family set up a research project to honour his memory, announcing that a new clinical research fellowship will be established in partnership with King's College London and the Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF) to help improve the nation's metabolic health. The Mosleys have been working with King's College London and the CDRF, who will administer the Michael Mosley Memorial Research Fund, to appoint a dedicated research scientist. Mosley, known for fronting BBC and Channel 4 documentaries on health and diet, popularised the 5:2 diet, a form of intermittent fasting, through his book The Fast Diet. His son Dr Jack Mosley, a GP registrar, who researched GLP-1 drug brands including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound with his father, has also written a book titled Food Noise: How Weight Loss Medication And Smart Nutrition Can Silence Your Cravings. In December, a coroner said Mosley's death was 'indeterminate' and 'unascertainable', adding that it 'was most likely attributable either to heatstroke (accidental) or non-identified pathological cause'. Mosley had presented BBC Radio 4's Just One Thing, and the BBC series Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain. He would regularly push his body during various programmes, and in a 2014 documentary he ingested tapeworms for six weeks. In a 2015 programme he made two black puddings out of his own blood to showcase its nutritional value. The BBC honoured the doctor-turned-science broadcaster with a day dedicated to him in July 2024, when presenters and audiences where encouraged to do 'just one thing' to improve their wellbeing. His wife Clare accepted the Hall of Fame Award at the British Podcast Awards on his behalf in September 2024.
Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Ginny and Georgia, season 3, review: a perfect example of the addictive Netflix formula
In the market for a soapy drama about a beautiful, whip-smart single mother and her clever yet dreadfully dull and endlessly ungrateful teenage daughter? Gilmore Girls might have already nailed that formula 20 years ago, but because television is just an infinite cycle of reboots, sequels, prequels or blatant rip-offs these days, it was only a matter of time until a streamer tried to replicate that show's schmaltzy charm. Enter Ginny & Georgia (Netflix). Among Netflix 's most popular original series, it's back for a third season that is once again filled with – deep breath – murder, small-town politics, mother-daughter bickering, sex, snogging and property porn. One imagines it came about when an executive marched into work the morning after his daughter forced him to watch Gilmore Girls and demanded a modern update, only crossed with Narcos, because American audiences can't get enough of crime. Georgia (Brianne Howey) is a Southern belle and single mother-of-two with a dark past: childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, poverty. A cycle of marrying rich then moving on, culminated, prior to the events of the first season, in her murdering her grope-happy husband (spoiler alert: he's not the only man she's sent to the pearly gates). Now, a few years on, her perfect new life in an idyllic New England town – complete with perfect New England man, in the form of local mayor Paul Randolph (Friday Night Lights' Scott Porter) – is starting to unravel. Season two ended with Georgia being escorted in handcuffs from her fairytale wedding to Paul , accused of murdering a neighbour's terminally ill husband. In her eyes, it was a mercy killing, though the rest of the town – and the law – doesn't see it that way. Most of season three's 10 episodes revolve around the court case, which turns into a media sensation. Howey is warm, funny and impossible not to root for, despite her penchant for killing off her exes. Flashback scenes patch together her traumatic past (her younger self affectingly portrayed by Nikki Roumel) and further elicit the audience's empathy: she might be a killer, but all of her victims were abusive or cruel. She might lie and steal, but it's only to provide for her family. The latter consists of teenage daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry), possibly the most annoying TV character to have emerged in the past decade – and I've watched all of And Just Like That, so I'm unfortunately familiar with Che Diaz – due to her constant whining, whingeing and weeping. Fair enough, her mother's a criminal, her little brother (Diesel La Torraca) is painfully shy, troubled and keeps mauling other kids at school, but that's no excuse. Ginny and Georgia would benefit hugely from the showrunners omitting the Ginny half of the title. Season three ends, as expected, with Georgia walking free, having recruited her kids to frame an old nemesis for the crime. After bingeing all 10 hour-long episodes, you might find yourself in a rut of self-loathing: 'I know this isn't 'good',' you'll think, 'so why can't I stop watching?' Because it's the perfect example of the Netflix formula: soapy, cheesy fun led by unbelievably good-looking actors. It's not The Sopranos. It's not even Gilmore Girls. It's just shiny, addictive escapism.
