Leeds has been chosen as the location for Channel 4’s new national headquarters, the broadcaster’s chief executive Alex Mahon has confirmed.
The city was chosen over Greater Manchester and Birmingham, and has been praised for its “thriving digital industry and a strong digital talent pool” by Channel 4.
The broadcaster’s two new creative hubs will be located in Glasgow and Bristol.
The three new locations are part of Channel 4’s 4 All the UK strategy, which was first announced in March and will mark the biggest change to the structure of the organisation in its 35-year history.
Some 300 Channel 4 jobs, including key creative decision-makers with significant spending power, will be based in the hubs outside of the capital.
The new building will include a studio with the capability to regularly co-anchor the programme.
Alex Mahon, chief executive of Channel 4, said: “We undertook a rigorous process over the last seven months and the high calibre of all the pitches meant those were incredibly difficult decisions to make.
After the Channel 4 decision was announced, Tom Riordan, CEO of Leeds City Council, said: “We’ve done it! The best news today that @Channel4’s national HQ will be in #Leeds.
Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow were also in the running after three rounds of competition.
Charles Gurassa, Channel 4 chair, said: “I’m delighted that the Channel 4 Board has today unanimously agreed that Channel 4 will establish its new National HQ in Leeds and two new Creative Hubs in Bristol and Glasgow.
“We were very impressed by the high quality of all the pitches delivered by the shortlisted cities and I’d like to extend my thanks to all the many people involved.
The new national HQ has been described as “a broad-based centre”, which will include commissioning, production and digital content.
The creative hubs will begin with a focus on programme commissioning, but will welcome a broader talent base later on.
The first-round pitch process was launched in April, with more than 30 submissions entered.
The second stage process involved Channel 4 visiting each of the 13 shortlisted cities and regions for a presentation and discussion before they were whittled down to the final six.
Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds offers a home in the heart of the UK and the north, with strong links to screen, and a constantly evolving creative sector with huge ambitions to be even greater in the next few years and beyond.