Channel 4 is planning a new station featuring just US acquisitions, Broadcast says this week.

C4US would offer repeats of the network's biggest American hits such as Lost, Desperate Housewives, ER and LA Law.

The plans are thought to have sparked concern from some executives over how the new channel would affect the network's existing multichannel portfolio: around 50% of E4's schedule is made up of US acquisitions while More4 features The West Wing, The Sopranos and ER in its lineup.

A C4 spokesperson confirmed: "Our ambitions for multichannel do not end with our current portfolio and we are looking at a number of options."