Channel 4 is an British independent television channel. Founded in 1982, it is a general channel showing a mix of comedy, entertainment, drama and news. Much of the content is original to Channel 4 but some imported shows, particularly American, are also shown.
'Countdown', a words and numbers game show, was the first show ever broadcast on Channel 4 and is still produced today. 'Fifteen to One', a general knowledge quiz, is another long-running fixture. Channel 4 has a history of producing critically acclaimed original comedy shows; 'Father Ted', 'The Comic Strip Presents', 'Black Books', 'Spaced', 'The IT Crowd' and many other sitcoms all first appeared here.
Channel 4's weekly news show has a good reputation for in-depth reporting of current events. The channel also produces many documentary series. Some of these are on serious events, such as the award-winning 'Dispatches' which has tackled subjects from Islamic terror threats to vaccination scandals. Other documentaries are lighter in tone; 'The Hotel', for example, follows the exploits of a good-natured but overoptimistic hotelier on England's south coast with frequently comedic consequences.
Channel 4 also shows a limited amount of sports. The channel has long been known for its horse racing coverage. They also show some cycling, boxing and poker.
