The broadcaster wants to create a network of broadband channels, covering everything from music to comedy, which would feature exclusive content and even allow users to upload their own footage.
At present C4's broadband service offers Big Brotherstreaming for a one-off fee of£14.99 as well as free C4 news and clips from shows such as Jamie's School Dinners, T4 Sessions and Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot.
Until recently it also featured footage from shows such as Wife Swapand Faking Itthrough a deal with RealNetworks. However, that deal ended in May. C4 will now run all its broadband activities itself.
C4 head of new media Andy Taylor said the plan was to roll out services slowly over the next year. He said 90% of C4's broadband content would be offered free and supplemented by premium services such as Big Brother.
New content will consist of bespoke commissions, acquired and archive material and programme extensions such as behind the scenes footage from C4 shows such as Hollyoaks. C4 expects to put out a tender to indies, most likely for music and film content, by the end of this year.
The broadcaster will also invite viewers to submit their own content for the service - something documentary-makers will be able to do through C4's previously announced FourDocs broadband initiative, which is likely to launch next month.
Sources suggested C4 is considering launching a similar "user generated" channel for comedy and entertainment.
"We think that broadband is truly mass market now and it's time for C4 to take a risk and invest its own money," said Taylor.
C4 chief executive Andy Duncan made new media investment a key plank of his plans for the coming year when he unveiled C4's annual report in May. He has already invested£2m into a new music website.
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