Monday, 4 April 2022

Government presses ahead with Channel 4 privatisation

A leaked email to staff at Channel 4 says the government will shortly announce it has decided to proceed with the proposal to privatise the broadcaster.

It comes after Nadine Dorries, the DCMS Secretary implementing this policy that wasn’t in the Conservatives’ manifesto, inaccurately stated it receives taxpayers’ money.

Under the current profitable "win-win" model, its revenues go straight back into new independently produced programming. A new owner will need a viable business with a smaller budget and team as well as produce its own programmes.

Even looking from the government’s point of view: sure, fewer public service broadcasters means fewer challenges to politicians (although Channel 4 News has always been produced by ITN which also makes ITV News and 5 News) - but putting jobs and small businesses in jeopardy is not very "conservative"!

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