Channel 4 to launch new 4Seven TV channel

Channel 4 has just announced that it will launch a new channel – its first in five years – called 4Seven. 4Seven's schedule will be decided by social media hubbub – if a show's getting a lot of online chat then it’ll be aired.

It’s essentially like running a TV channel using the ‘Most Popular’ category found when watching videos online – except that 4Seven will be on your telly, according to our colleagues on Stuff.tv.

We imagine the print version of Radio Times is in a nightmarish daze right now as it tries to figure out how to lay out the listings for the new channel.

Still, it's the way of the future – since streaming video services like Netflix and Lovefilm are colonising our tellies, and Apple's sniffing around TV content in advance of its rumoured iTV, terrestrial broadcasters will have to take some tips from their online rivals to keep up.

When the channel launches in the summer on Sky, Virgin and Freeview we expect oodles of Hollyoaks and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, given their popularity online.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.