Business leaders in Greater Birmingham congratulated Leeds after the city was chosen as a new national HQ for Channel 4 while expressing disappointment that the region had been overlooked.
There was also a setback for Greater Birmingham and Greater Manchester after C4 decided to locate “creative hubs” in Bristol and Glasgow with around 50 staff in each. They are expected to move 200 of its 800 London staff to the West Yorkshire city.
Paul Faulkner (pictured), Chief Executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “It’s a blow for Greater Birmingham and a huge disappointment for the team who put such a compelling case for C4 to set up in Birmingham.
“We congratulate Leeds on their victory but we have so much to look forward to here in Birmingham and the West Midlands, like the 2022 commonwealth Games and HS2 the continued development of our city.
“London and Leeds are almost equal distances from Birmingham so we look forward extensive coverage on Channel 4.
“We have no doubt that the brilliant cultural sector in the city and region will continue to flourish and go from strength to strength regardless of this decision.
The move is all part of a plan to increase the amount Channel 4 spends on programmes outside London by £250m over the next five years.
That means half of its programme budget will be spent outside the capital by 2023, up from 35 per cent currently.
All three new sites will house “key creative decision-makers” including programme commissioners who will have responsibility “for some of Channel 4’s biggest shows and who oversee significant spend”.
The new national HQ will also regularly host executive and board meetings.
Channel 4 News will also open three new bureaux outside London, but they may not be in the same locations.
