We announced today a new customer in Channel Four Television Corporation — owner and operator of the U.K’s biggest free streaming service and a number of television channels including E4, More4, Film4, and 4seven. Channel Four is utilizing Witbe’s technology to automate the QA testing process for its Channel 4 streaming app, providing a more efficient way to deliver a consistently strong service to its viewers across devices and new app updates.
The Channel 4 streaming app is available on a wide variety of devices — from set-top boxes and streaming sticks to smartphones and tablets — and Witbe’s testing and monitoring technology is helping to automate the QA process for the app, ensuring that it works correctly on its top viewing platforms with each new update. The automation of these labor-intensive and repetitive tasks increases efficiency, freeing up staff to spend more time on other steps in the QA testing process.
“We offer the C4 streaming service across a wide range of consumer devices and our mission is to deliver a first-class consumer experience across all of them,” said Dave Cameron, chief product officer at Channel 4. “This new partnership with Witbe empowers our testing teams to work much more efficiently with the help of reliable automated technology to do just that.”
Witbe’s technology tests and monitors real devices, providing Channel 4 with an accurate picture of the quality of experience (QoE) its viewers receive at home. Channel 4 is using Witbe’s Witbox+, the company’s most powerful monitoring solution, which is capable of testing four 4K devices simultaneously. The Witbox lineup can test mobile devices and smart TVs — both of which Channel 4 relies on — and enables the company to compare its service quality to that of its competitors. With Witbe’s Remote Eye Controller (REC) — part of the company’s Software Suite of solutions — Channel 4’s QA testing team can also access real devices remotely from anywhere in the world.
“Our QA test automation technology was designed specifically to help video service providers deliver consistent performance across updates,” said Mathieu Planche, CEO at Witbe. “Enabling a renowned company like Channel Four and helping them maximize their workflow to achieve their goals is an honor for Witbe. It’s a testament to our technology and how it can help media companies deliver the quality of service and experience their customers expect.”
About Channel Four Television Corporation
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic, and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose, and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.
With a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional, and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK, and stands out in a crowded market.
From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, it is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development, and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025.
Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.