Channel 4 tells staff a round of major job cuts is looming

Exclusive: Broadcaster looks to hasten shake-up amid TV advertising slump with most job losses likely to affect London-based workers

Channel 4's chief executive has confirmed to its 1,200 staff that a round of major job cuts is looming, as the broadcaster seeks to hasten its shift to streaming amid the worst TV advertising downturn in 15 years.

Alex Mahon told the workforce in an internal email on Monday morning that the broadcaster needed to accelerate" plans to become a genuinely digital-first public service broadcaster" after the worst slump in traditional TV advertising since the financial crisis in 2008.