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Channel 4 and BSkyB are considering plans to combine their advertising sales teams, in order to cut costs and help them compete with ITV. 25-May-2009 Channel 4 is to shed 150 head office jobs from its 1,000-strong workforce, as part of a strategy to reduce costs by £50m a year. 24-Sep-2008 Channel 4 has acquired a 50% stake in Emap's seven music TV channels for up to £28m, having formed a joint venture called Box Television. 24-Jul-2007 Channel 4 is planning to sell off Ostrich Media, its call-TV business with 40 staff. 25-Oct-2006 Channel 4 is to acquire a 50% stake in Taste Events, the operator of food and restaurant festivals valued at £3m. 18-Sep-2006 Channel 4 is looking to spend up to £188m on acquisitions and commercial investments over the next year, in order to reduce its reliance on advertising revenue. 23-May-2005 Channel 4 is considering plans to launch a digital radio station, and is thought to be in talks with UBC Media. 03-Aug-2004 Channel 4 is to review its future ownership structure, which could lead to a partnership being formed with Five to collaborate in advertising sales and scheduling. 01-Mar-2004 Channel 4 is said to be planning to open a new office at the Pacific Quay site in Glasgow. 29-May-2003 Channel 4 and Channel 5 are considering plans to merge their advertising sales operations, in order to compete with Carlton and Granada. 25-Nov-2002 Channel 4 has announced plans to shed 122 jobs in its main TV business, and further cuts will affect its 4 Ventures commercial arm. 18-Oct-2002 Channel 4 is planning to close its FilmFour sales and distribution operations with "significant job losses", and the production division will be combined with its main TV business. 10-Jul-2002 Channel 4 is to shed 80 jobs, including 30 redundancies, a reduction in freelance contracts and the closure of unfilled vacancies. 16-Nov-2001 Channel 4 is to help fund the creation of jobs at independent TV production companies around the country, following a trial scheme in Glasgow. 21-Feb-2001 Channel 4 has announced plans to set up a new company called 4 Ventures to take over its digital channels and other commercial operations. 06-Feb-2001 The BBC has shortlisted seven architects to build a new £30m BBC Scotland headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, while Channel 4 has announced plans to relocate its Glasgow office to the site by 2005. 04-Dec-2000 Channel 4 is linking up with BSkyB and Arena Leisure to submit a bid to the Racecourse Association for the media rights to UK horse racing. 13-Oct-2000 Emap is planning to launch two cable TV channels, and has also announced a joint venture with Channel 4 to develop web-based services for teenagers. 31-May-2000 Channel 4 is to increase its programming budget by 13% to £375m this year, as it will no longer be required to transfer some of its advertising revenue to ITV. 11-Feb-1999 Channel 4 has withdrawn from the bidding to provide a digital TV service for schools due to concerns over the commercial viability of the project. 16-Jan-1999 Channel Four is in discussions with a number of potential partners, including Warner Brothers, about setting up more pay-TV channels in addition to the new FilmFour service. 29-Oct-1998 Channel Four and Sky Sports have agreed a £103m deal to show international cricket matches over the next four years, having outbid the BBC. 16-Oct-1998 Channel Four is to launch a pay-TV channel called FilmFour in November, available on digital, analogue satellite and cable. 09-Oct-1998 BSkyB has agreed a deal with Channel Four to include both its main channel and a new Film Four movies channel on Sky Digital. 31-Jul-1998 Channel 4 is looking for a partner to help it develop a subscription film channel for digital TV, and the successful partner would gain an equity stake in the project in return for the supply of programming. 25-May-1998 Channel Four is to create 61 new jobs to prepare for the introduction of digital TV and to cope with the increase in the number of programmes being commissioned. 23-Apr-1998 Channel Four is looking to secure a financing and distribution deal with one of the large US independent film production companies, in order to boost the output of films through its new Film Four subsidiary. 16-Apr-1998 Channel 4 has awarded a £17m a year contract to ITN for the production of Channel 4 News, thereby renewing a long-standing relationship. 03-Mar-1998 Channel 4 is to expand its distribution business from 10 movies a year to 16 as a first step in becoming a miniature movie studio. 11-Feb-1998 BSkyB is to submit proposals to provide a nightly news programme for Channel Four, and expects to undercut the current ITN service on price. 08-Nov-1997 Channel Four has invited outside bodies to suggest innovative ideas for its 7pm news programme, which could result in ITN losing the contract. 05-Nov-1997 Channel Four is to increase its output of original programming during peak viewing hours to 70% under a proposed revision to its operating licence, following criticism that it has been using US comedies to grow its audience share. 24-Oct-1997 The government has decided to phase out the Channel 4 funding formula by 1999, meaning that the channel will no longer have to make special payments to ITV and will instead have a further £80m a year to invest in programmes. 29-Jul-1997 The government has indicated that it is considering ending the Channel 4 funding formula, which has resulted in the channel paying over £250m to the ITV companies since 1993. 31-May-1997 Channel 4 is to invest £100m in British feature films, which could result in up to 80 new films over the next four years. 31-May-1996 The government is to significantly cut the payments made by Channel 4 to ITV under the funding formula. 08-Mar-1996 The government is changing Channel 4's funding formula, which should give the channel a further £35m a year to make programmes. 15-Feb-1996 Channel 4 has won the support of the ITC to put a stop to the funding formula which requires it to pay ITV companies. 06-Dec-1995 Channel 4 is stepping up its bid to buy programmes from the BBC library, following news that the BBC is willing to sell to Channel 5. 04-Nov-1995 BSkyB has submitted a tender to supply the Channel 4 news service for £10m per year. 20-Sep-1995
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