Ian Burrell in the Independent says that Duncan
was a fervent champion of public service media. Endlessly enthusiastic, he eschewed the hierarchical message of suits and ties and sat at an open plan desk as he encouraged colleagues to help realise his vision for Channel 4's multimedia feature.
Whilst at first things were going well his
wider dreams for Channel 4 began to unravel as plans for Channel 4 Radio and an adventure into magazine publishing had to be shelved. There were also numerous programming scandals which, although the channel claimed they fulfilled its remit for making challenging shows, also prompted questions over the suitability of the broadcaster's leadership.
Ben Fenton in the FT describes a
difficult year, with Channel 4's fut-ure the focus of constant debate as part of the Digital Britain process. It was thought the advertising-funded, state-owned broadcaster would solve its financial shortfall, self-confessed as likely to hit £150m a year by 2012, by forming a joint venture with the BBC's commercial arm.
No doubt that attention will turn to his successor with Peter Fincham and Kevin Lygo being touted as possibles as there will again be much speculation about the channels very future
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