Channel 4 race begins, again, as cities submit formal bids

The West Midlands has today submitted its formal proposals to bring Channel 4 to the region as it restarts a race it thought it had already won.

In February Mayor Andy Street told a Birmingham business audience of 550 business people that he was “confident we will win” and complete a hat-trick for the region following the successful Commonwealth Games and City of Culture bids.

He said: “I am prepared in front of these witnesses to predict another success of teamwork this year and it will be that we do get the nod for Channel 4.”

The expectation was Birmingham would be confirmed as Channel 4’s new home before Easter.

But three weeks later, Channel 4 revealed its plans to start a bidding process for a so-called national HQ and two smaller hubs as part of its Nations and Regions strategy. It has agreed, under pressure from Government, to relocate 300 jobs.

It is retaining its current headquarters which will become known as its London HQ but will remain the broadcaster’s de facto head office.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has today formally put forward potential sites in Coventry and Birmingham for the national headquarters.

More than a dozen cities, including Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield, are also expected to submit their bids today.

Street said: “We already have everything in place to enable C4 to pioneer new content, new platforms and new forms of production to meet and enhance the needs of its audience.

“When you look at what this region has to offer C4 the case for coming here is beyond question.”

The broadcaster has said the national headquarters will be placed somewhere with a working population of more than 200,000 people, have a high level of physical and digital connectivity, and a travel time to London that is below three hours.

It has also highlighted five key considerations – demography and diversity, availability of talent, local connectivity, travel links to London and its creative hubs, and the suitability of available office space – that the successful bidder will perform strongly on.

Channel 4 will reveal a shortlist on May 30 with the final decision set to be announced on October 1.