Wolverhampton fails in bid to become a new home for Channel 4
Channel 4 will not set up base in Wolverhampton, it has been announced today.
The city failed to make a shortlist of 13 cities and regions as the broadcaster looks to relocate out of London.
Wolverhampton had bid to host one of two creative hubs planned by the channel.
Meanwhile, Birmingham and Coventry, under the banner of West Midlands, have been shortlisted to take the channel's new HQ.
The West Midlands' bid was submitted by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
For the HQ and creative hubs, the other shortlisted areas are Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Greater Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.
The shortlisted areas for one of the two creative hubs are Belfast, Brighton, Newcastle/Gateshead, Nottingham, Sheffield and Stoke.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "This was the first hurdle we needed to overcome in order to secure the new national HQ for Channel 4 and now we can focus on enhancing our bid further.
"Both Birmingham and Coventry offer powerful arguments to Channel 4 in terms of locations, talent and the youth and diversity of the population and I am pleased this has been recognised.
"Now the hard work really starts as we begin negotiations in earnest to develop the most compelling case to the broadcaster."
Wolverhampton's bid was spearheaded by city MP Eleanor Smith.
Defence Secretary, South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, and fellow MPs Emma Reynolds, Pat McFadden, Adrian Bailey, Ian Austin and Valerie Vaz also supported the application.
But the city faced a weakness in meeting Channel 4’s eligibility criteria for a hub, as it has no existing digital production community.
It was one of more than 30 submissions by areas to have the national headquarters or creative hub.
The broadcaster will no visit each of the shortlisted areas for a presentation and a chance to ask questions.
The winning areas will be announced in October.
Channel 4’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jonathan Allan said: “We’ve been incredibly impressed both by the number of pitches we received and by the high quality of the submissions – which has underlined the huge amount of creativity, innovation and talent right across the UK.
“However we have to move to a shortlist phase and, after careful consideration by the Channel 4 Executive team, we’ve selected 13 cities that are best able to meet our vision."
In March, the broadcaster announced it was to set up a new HQ outside London, although its office in the capital will remain open.
The move will see 300 staff move out of London.
