While both the BBC and Channel Four are public broadcasters with a public service remit, Channel Four receives no money from the licence fee and is solely dependent on advertising and similar income.[1]
It's better to say not that failure is an option, but rather than making a season of programmes as they are being produced and axing the show if it is failing, the UK system allows shows to be produced well ahead of transmission but in small chunks so that if it does do badly it doesn't need to be recomissioned.
It's better to say not that failure is an option, but rather than making a season of programmes as they are being produced and axing the show if it is failing, the UK system allows shows to be produced well ahead of transmission but in small chunks so that if it does do badly it doesn't need to be recomissioned.
[1] http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faq/name/does-channel-4-get...