Behind the creative chaos that was the start of Channel 4 television, there stood from the very first days one elegant, quizzical, unobtrusive figure making order and a sustainable business where there was none before. Colin Leventhal, who has died of
cancer aged 73, was a solicitor who was mad about film, had been head of copyright at the
BBC and came to Channel 4 in 1981 to set up the first business relationships with the independent programme-makers who were springing up all round the country.
His intellectual brilliance, fair-mindedness and deep sympathy for creative artists made as important a contribution as any to the success of the new channel. He rose to become director of acquisition and a board member, and in 1993 set up Channel Four International Limited and Film Four Distributors.