Channel 4 has confirmed it will cut 340 jobs by the end of 2026, equivalent to 28% of its 1,276-strong workforce, in the deepest round of layoffs in its 43-year history. Chief executive Priya Dogra announced the cuts on Wednesday following a strategic review, saying they will free up more of the broadcaster's £1 billion income for on-screen content. Insiders described the scale of the reductions as shocking, with one source calling it a "very bad" day, as Channel 4 struggles against a shrinking ad market, rising production costs, and competition from far larger production suppliers, rival broadcasters and digital platforms such as YouTube.

Dogra is introducing a new organisational structure intended to cut management layers, reduce duplication and simplify decision-making, building on predecessor Alex Mahon's work growing digital sales to 34% of revenue, though details on how the changes will affect commissioning remain undisclosed. A staff consultation will begin shortly, with further details promised in the coming months. The cuts follow similar reductions at the BBC, which is cutting its workforce by around 10% (roughly 2,000 roles), and come after Channel 4 last made 200 redundancies in 2024. Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, called the job losses "deeply worrying", while questions persist over executive pay after Mahon's total remuneration reached £566,000 despite leaving in June 2025.