Channel 4 unveil More4 launch date and autumn schedule

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 26-Aug-05, 13:30

LONDON – Channel 4's new factual-based channel More4 is to launch on Monday October 10 with a controversial drama charting the affair between David Blunkett and Spectator publisher Kimberly Quinn.

The free-to-view digital channel has a public service focus like rival BBC4, while aiming to be less highbrow.

It will go on air at 8pm with 'A Very Social Secretary', starring Bernard Hill as Blunkett, Victoria Hamilton as Quinn and 'My Family' star Robert Lindsay as Tony Blair.

The channel will give over Monday nights to feature top drama-documentaries and films including 'Animal Research', on the topical subject of animal experimentation, and the UK debut of Oscar-nominated film 'Downfall' starring Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler.

Other highlights include 'Super Size Me' filmmaker Morgan Spurlock's UK premiere of his new US documentary '30 Days' and the chance to see his McDonald's-guzzling documentary again.

More4 will also regularly showcase international documentaries including 'Fahrenheit 9/11', 'Capturing the Friedmans' and 'The Corporation.'

Every weekday at 8pm, Sarah Smith will anchor 'More4 News', a half-hour bulletin that will mix updates on the day's main news stories with more detailed analyses of key issues.

Every weekday night at 11pm the channel will air 'The Last Word' with a rotating round of presenters including David Mitchell, Mark Dolan and Stanley Johnson, commenting on the days's events with journalists, cultural commentators and comedians as guests.

Andy Duncan, chief executive of Channel 4, said: "More4's annual programme budget is similar to that of BBC Four at launch, and well over half of that sum is committed to original UK dramas and documentaries, and a daily news service."

He promised that More4 would be more than a series of digital repeats.

"This won't be another digital repeats channel -- More4 aims to make a significant public service contribution in its own right," said Duncan.

Channel 4 announced it was launching More4 earlier this year with a budget of £30m. At the time, the broadcaster has said the new station will be "more down to earth and accessible" than rival digital station BBC Four.

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