Grand designs?’ Investigating the cultural and spatial logics of Channel 4’s media hub workspaces in Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12599065 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Katherine Champion (0000-0002-9311-8221, University of Stirling, corresponding author), David Lee (0000-0003-0182-9796, University of Leeds) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 957-980 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | European Journal of Cultural Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1367-5494 • E-ISSN: 1460-3551 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/13675494241284638 |
| OpenAlex | W4403461785 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 28 |
This article explores the evolving spatiality of media production through an analysis of recent developments in UK broadcaster Channel 4’s move to a multi-site operating model. Historically, media buildings have served as landmarks of power and influence, embodying the aspirations and identities of media organisations and, as such, offer a fruitful lens for the specific exploration of the spaces of contemporary media production. Through a detailed analysis of Channel 4’s decision-making process, site selections and the significance of the chosen buildings within areas with an urban regeneration focus, the study investigates the complex interplay between media industry dynamics, regional development policies, and wider political and economic forces. Drawing on a range of academic literature and evidence from media, industry and policy reporting, the article highlights the strategic motivations behind Channel 4’s decentralisation efforts, positioned by the organisation as an effort to address diversity in terms of nations and regions representation but significantly shaped by political factors. However, it also raises critical questions about the long-term sustainability, economic viability and cultural impact of these relocation decisions. The article discusses how Channel 4’s regional media spaces and decentralisation reflect the impermanence and crisis facing Public Service Media, emphasising the shifting power dynamics within the media landscape and the need for adaptive strategies in an increasingly volatile industry environment. By examining the evolving investment in media buildings, this research contributes to a growing body of research seeking to understand the complex dynamics shaping contemporary media landscapes and urban environments
Decentralization · Diversity (politics · Operationalization · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sociology · Cultural Industries and Urban Development · Global Urban Networks and Dynamics · Urban Planning and Governance
MediaSpace
The Media City
The Rise of the Creative Class
Microclustering of the Media Industries in London
Place
Creative Hubs in Question
Will coronavirus cause a big city exodus
Hobson's choice? Constraints on accessing spaces of creative production in a transforming industrial conurbation
MediaSpace
Not So Cool Britannia
Media Capital
Relocation, relocation, relocation
Cultural Quarters as Mechanisms for Urban Regeneration. Part 1
The kiss of death. Public service media under right-wing populist attack
Rethinking the Creative City
Universality
Creating an iconic brand — an account of the history, development, context and significance of Channel 4's idents
Cultural-Products Industries and Urban Economic Development
Spatiality, Built Form, and Creative Industry Development in the Inner City
Urban Cultural Strategies and Urban Regeneration
Of Urban Entrepreneurs or 24-Hour Party People? City-Centre Living in Manchester, England
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |