‘Firmly rooted within the audience it serves’ 

Channel 4’s YouTube-first youth proposition Channel 4.0 is “firmly rooted within the audience it serves” according to the judges. 

The channel hit one million subscribers in October 2025, alongside 1.7 billion views across its many well integrated social platforms including Spotify, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.  

Shows such as Savage Sundays and Find The… performed well on 4.0’s lower-tariff, with episodes such as Find The Muslim hitting more than 50 million views, giving young audiences “a masterclass in education through entertainment that speaks to the channel’s remit”.  

Not only did the raw figures impress the judges, but also the 4.0 ethos to “create opportunity for untapped British talent both on and off screen”. One judge praised how clear the talent pipeline is, with original 4.0 talent now sitting comfortably on linear and beyond.  

Similarly, the fact that Channel 4 took 4.0 beyond the internet, running sessions in schools across the nations and regions to inspire the next generation of creators and filmmakers left judges feeling “inspired – and hopeful that the kids aren’t as doomed as we thought”. All in all, they pronounced the channel “a clear winner”.  

Shortlisted  

BBC3

BBC3 

BBC3’s focus on scripted has given the channel an impressive 11% increase in viewers year-on-year, as well as eight BAFTA and nine RTS nominations. Meanwhile factual and entertainment also continue to deliver both scale and cultural relevance. Judges praised BBC3’s unapologetic LGBTQ+ entertainment slate (even the channel has since gone on to cancel two of the three shows which comprise it).  

U&Drama

U&Drama  

Across its impressive slate U&Drama had a few home runs this year. Bergerac landed as the channel’s highest rating series not only on the channel, but across UKTV’s network. Meanwhile acquisition The Count of Monte Cristo dominated viewing on the U platform. 

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