Luke Johnson and Andy Duncan's Commons appearance: key soundbites

Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson and his chief executive Andy Duncan are not the world's most natural double act. But they put on an effective united front when they appeared before the House of Commons culture, media and sport committee today.

Here is their appearance in a dozen handy soundbites:

"We refute that entirely."
Johnson on the suggestion that Channel 4 is not regulated strictly enough

"The core channel is in inexorable decline. To ignore the huge changes in technology and consumer behaviour would be mad."
Duncan on why Channel 4 is right to invest in digital and new media, even when it loses money

"There are various measures in terms of how they achieve bonuses. It is too early to say whether those measures will be achieved."
Johnson on whether Channel 4 executives will receive big bonuses next year

"There is no intention to cut news and current affairs. Documentaries will be affected at some level. And drama."
Duncan on the impact of Channel 4's programme budget cuts

"Channel 4 has delivered outstanding value to the taxpayer with almost no direct cash subsidy in 26 years."
Johnson bigs up the Horseferry Road posse

"The cuts are going a lot further and a lot faster than in other organisations."
Duncan says Channel 4 is cutting costs quicker than ITV

"There is a grave danger it would tear the heart out of Channel 4."
Johnson on the prospect of privatisation

"The BBC struggles to connect with younger viewers in the way we do. It talks to them in a more middle of the road, adult to child, style."
Duncan on why Channel 4 connects with the youth of today better than BBC3

"Unfortunately the BBC is the BBC. The great majority of young people do not watch the BBC and never will."
Johnson, ditto

"That is one of the frustrations. We have been flagging up this issue for three or four years."
Duncan urges Ofcom and the government to decide exactly what form of financial support Channel 4 is going to receive

"There might be a smaller role for us to play online but the transfer of regional news from ITV to us does not make sense."
Duncan on the possibility that Channel 4 would take on ITV's regional news commitments

"It could possibly be worse than we previously thought."
Duncan on Channel 4's future funding gap

