Channel 4 Press Packs 1982 – 2002 is a new online resource providing search and browse access to over 1000 press packs (exclusively by UK Higher Education/Further Education and BUFVC members) together with research case studies and articles.

Images © Channel 4 Archive

A Pioneering Channel

Brookside? The Tube? Four Weddings and a Funeral? Big Brother?

Whatever your view of Channel 4, its extraordinary roster of programmes changed the face of British television. Its pioneering approach extended to its press office, led by Chris Griffin-Beale, which revolutionized journalist’s access to, and understanding of, pre-broadcast programme information.

A Unique Archive

At the heart of this were the weekly press information packs, substantial booklets presenting journalists with a comprehensive seven-day listing, news, reviews, stills and much more.

The first twenty years of this unique archive, including season highlights, provides the researcher with exhaustive scheduling information, extensive film reviews and detailed programme highlights.

A Contextualised Resource

The press pack collection is part of a rich contextualized online resource featuring research case studies on Film Review shows and the Channel’s experiment with the Red Triangle as well as articles on the history of television listings.

Context was a guiding principle in development and design of the resource. Read more about the creation of this digital resource in Channel 4 Press Packs 1982-2002: Spinning Content into Context by Linda Kaye (Viewfinder 92, October 2013).

Channel 4 Press Packs 1982-2002 was developed by the BUFVC in partnership with the University of Portsmouth and Channel 4 Archive as part of the AHRC project Channel 4 Television and British Film Culture (2010-2014).