On Duncan's imminent departure

There is much coverage of the latest problems at Channel 4 this morning with reference to the departure of Andy Duncan.

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

Concerns for Channel 4 in a day for Andy Duncan

Audience fragmentation is playing havoc with advertising revenues. The global economy is of increasing concern. But most important of all is the looming digital switchover, with its potentially terminal implications for Channel 4's public service role, and associated subsidies.

Sue Arnott spends 24 hours with its chief executive Andy Duncan with him telling her that

"In one sense we are non-profit, but in another we are aggressively commercial. My typical day straddles the divide."

And his day reflected this multi media multi platform environment,addressing the Parliamentary media groups on the subject of convergency.Meeting over projected financial figures

The question is how much we can afford to spend next year, and how much should be spent on Channel 4 itself, how much on digital, and how much on the 4OD on-demand service."

Then finishing off the channel's submission to Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting,then hosting an event the channel is running as part of the Government's creative industries apprenticeship strategy.

A real insight into running the channel