Government launches consultation into privatisation of Channel 4

The Culture Secretary said now was the time to ‘consider releasing Channel 4 from the constraints of public ownership’.
Channel 4 Privatisation
PA Wire
Alex Green6 July 2021

The Government has launched a public consultation into the privatisation of Channel 4.

The channel, which was founded in 1982 to deliver to under-served audiences, is owned by the Government and receives its funding from advertising.

Potential investors are likely to include big American companies.

2020/2021 Premier League Season Package
PA Wire

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the decision to review Channel 4’s ownership structure had been taken because the changing media landscape posed a serious threat to traditional linear broadcasters.

Media minister John Whittingdale previously said “increasing pressure” from streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime had been a factor in the decision.

The DCMS said the 10-week consultation would be seeking “views and supporting evidence” about the economic, social and cultural costs and benefits of releasing Channel 4 from public ownership.

These responses will inform the Government’s ongoing review of public service broadcasting.

The consultation will last for 10 weeks and closes on September 14.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The media world has changed immeasurably since Channel 4’s creation in the early 1980s, but whilst we have more choice today the need for a strong and successful Channel 4 continues.

“So in the face of rising global competition, now is the right time to strengthen UK public service broadcasters and consider releasing Channel 4 from the constraints of public ownership, enabling it to thrive for the next 40 years and beyond.”

Channel 4 has been owned by the Government since its launch in 1982 and receives its funding from advertising.

The money generated is then used to commission independent producers to make programmes for the channel.

Figures including It’s A Sin writer Russell T Davies and The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci have voiced opposition to the potential sale of Channel 4.

The consultation comes ahead of a Government White Paper on the future of broadcasting which is due in the autumn.

It will close on September 14 at 23.45.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in