Channel 4 has today published its Statement of Programme Policy for 2007, stating that challenging programming will be "at the heart" of its schedule during its 25th anniversary year.

The annual statement, which the channel is required to publish by Ofcom, identifies four key themes for 2007: challenging political, social and ethical subject matter; strong and distinctive authorship; support for new talent; and, new formats and cross-genre initiatives.

Channel 4’s director of television and content, Kevin Lygo, said: "Channel 4 will be 25 years old in November and this document demonstrates our clear intention to stay true to the principles that have guided and sustained the channel so successfully during the last quarter of a century on air."

"At its best Channel 4 is UK television’s leading catalyst for change; we broadcast many more new programmes and give more airtime to fresh faces and fresh ideas than any other mainstream broadcaster. The channel also aims to stand squarely in the centre of national debate, challenging orthodoxies and presenting alternative perspectives to encourage our audience to think again," he added.

The channel’s editorial ambitions in 2007 will be backed by a programme spend of more than £600 million on television and online, with a budget of £504 million for the core Channel 4 service. The channel expects to transmit programmes from more than 300 independent producers during the course of the year and will have a total development spend of over £11 million.

Channel 4 is also to relaunch its Channel 4 News and Dispatches websites, with an investment of £1.1 million and further develop initiatives such as 4Laughs and FourDocs.