Channel 4 would like to make a brief written submission addressing two of the issues raised by the Committee in the oral evidence session on 21 October 2008.

KNTV

  At Q59, Philip Davies MP asked Andy Duncan about pre-broadcast announcements for the Channel 4 education programme KNTV Sex.

  KNTV is an award-winning education series that uses a light-hearted comedy approach to deliver educational content to teens. Previous series have focused on philosophy and science, looking at the history of these subjects, key historical characters and quirky facts through a mixture of computer animation and archive footage. KNTV Philosophy won an RTS Education award in 2008.

  On 17 November 2008, KNTV Sex commenced transmission in Channel 4's 11am educational slot.

  Each episode of KNTV Sex has been prepared with care, following detailed consultation with education experts, and there has been rigorous scrutiny of the content in the light of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Channel 4 is satisfied that KNTV Sex is completely compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and suitable for transmission in its intended slot.

  Channel 4 precedes the broadcast of each episode of KNTV Sex with the following announcement:

"KNTV Sex is a frank and educational programme about sex for 14-19-year-olds. The programme is accompanied by a full set of notes for teachers online, including information about sex and sexual themes. The website address appears at the end of the programme."

  This is in keeping with the kind of information provided by Channel 4 when broadcasting similar programming in morning Education slots.

  Channel 4 is confident that its press releases about KNTV Sex, together with the audience's understanding of the KNTV brand and the appropriate pre-broadcast announcements will ensure that those who are charged with the responsibility of protecting minors will be well aware of the content of KNTV Sex and will be able to decide whether or not their child should or should not watch the programme.

REACH FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES

  At Qq 53-54, Helen Southworth MP asked about Channel 4's reach for younger audiences compared to BBC Three.

  In response, Luke Johnson cited core Channel 4's 15 minute average weekly reach (58%), and in relation to younger audiences Andy Duncan cited the Channel 4 portfolio's 3 minute average monthly reach (over 90%).

  For clarity, Channel 4 thought it would be helpful to provide the Committee with reach figures among younger audiences for Channel 4 and BBC Three across consistent measures: average monthly reach figures are set out in the table below.