Channel 4 sustainability score: 54/100
Channel 4 is a UK public service broadcaster, publicly owned and funded mainly by advertising; it commissions most of its programmes from independent producers and shows them on its TV channels and streaming service. Channel Four Television Corporation is a statutory corporation created by the Broadcasting Act 1990; its roots go back to 1980 (Channel Four Television Company Limited, 01533774).
More about Channel 4
It had about 1,276 employees (average full-time equivalent) and £1.03 billion revenue in 2025.
Founded 1990Head office London, UKStaff ~1,276 (average FTE, 2025)Revenue ~£1.03B revenue (2025)Website ↗
Channel 4's footprint was 388,397 tCO2e in 2025, over 99% of it in its supply chain, mostly the programmes it commissions, and it rose 2% on 2024; it puts the fall since 2021 down mainly to lower spending and better data. Its electricity is on renewable tariffs, with no power purchase agreements or on-site generation. It has SBTi-validated absolute targets, including a 25% cut in supply-chain emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. It publishes no waste tonnages, water volumes or nature targets.
Channel 4 scores 54/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified November 2026.
That places Channel 4 joint 69th of 934 companies scored, and 9th of 28 in Media / Entertainment / Publishing.
What is Channel 4 doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Targets & Commitments and Carbon Footprint: Operations (9/10, 8/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Resource Use & Waste (0/10, 3/10).
Where Channel 4 lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- Emissions from its supply chain7/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling0/10No evidence its emissions are falling, not even from energy bills or mileage.
- How clean its energy is7/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste3/10No active waste reduction, reuse or repair shown.
- Its effect on water3/10No monitoring of water use, or no measures to reduce it.
- Its climate targets9/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports7/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Channel 4's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Channel 4's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by Channel 4 itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Indicates where metrics have been assured (limited assurance) under ISAE (UK) 3000 and ISAE 3410 by our independent assurance provider, KPMG”
“Performance on these KPIs will be verified annually on a “limited assurance” basis by an independent ESG auditor”
“Suppliers engaged via albert and CDP”
“Channel 4 commits to reach net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2050.”
“Reducing our absolute Scope 1 and 2 (e.g. fuel and energy) emissions by 42%.”
“Albert's Biodiversity Guide for Productions offers a practical checklist and actionable steps to avoid, reduce, and restore biodiversity impacts”
“Channel 4 has come under fire from climate activists after it announced that BP will sponsor its coverage”
“Oil and gas giant BP will not sponsor Channel 4’s primetime coverage of the Paralympic Games”
“The oil giant BP is no longer a sponsor of Channel 4’s primetime coverage of the Paralympic Games”
“Channel 4 have confirmed that Toyota is the “sole sponsor” of its Paralympics coverage”
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How does Channel 4 compare with other media / entertainment / publishing companies?
Where Channel 4 sits among media / entertainment / publishing peers.
Among the 28 major media / entertainment / publishing brands we've scored, Channel 4 sits 9th of 28.
Who scores higher in Media / Entertainment / Publishing?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Channel 4.
Informa has achieved genuine absolute emissions reductions in Scope 1 and 2 but total emissions rose in 2024 due to acquisitions and expanded operations.
See the breakdown →RELX operates strong emissions reduction in operations (61% absolute cut since 2018) and holds validated 1.5°C targets, but Scope 3 emissions are flat and fossil fuel sector engagement creates material greenwashing concerns.
See the breakdown →ITV's reported footprint fell 20% to 259,264 tCO2e in 2025, mostly the programmes and services it buys; it also estimates viewers' device energy at 394,165 t, which it leaves out of its total and targets.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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