THE Government is reportedly seeking to ditch plans to sell off Channel 4 in a remarkable U-turn which would signal a clean break with Boris Johnson’s approach to the broadcaster.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has written to the Prime Minister advising against the sale of the channel, according to a letter published by the podcast The News Agents.
It would be an about-turn on one of Johnson’s flagship cultural policies, which was widely criticised by his political opponents and voices across the media and arts.
SCOOP: Letter from Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan to Rishi Sunak confirming her recommendation is that Channel 4 privatisation does NOT go ahead. Says there are “better ways to ensure C4’s sustainability.”
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) January 4, 2023
Direct opposite of what the Johnson government said. pic.twitter.com/KOH78NVJjt
In the letter, published on Twitter on Wednesday, Donelan told Rishi Sunak: “I have concluded that pursuing a sale at this point is not the right decision and there are better ways to secure [Channel Four’s] sustainability."
READ MORE: Top pollsters' warning to Yessers for the coming year ahead of UK recession
Author, broadcaster and Sunday National columnist Stuart Cosgrove told this paper there were two key reasons the Government dropped the policy.
He said: "Obviously, the industry-wide backlash... Secondly the economics; the value to the Treasury was limited and the whole project was ideologically motivated."
The revelation was welcomed by the SNP's culture spokesperson John Nicolson, a staunch opponent of the plans.
He said: "Privatising this highly successful and much-loved public institution has been an obsession for right wing zealots in the Conservative Party for years. But it never made commercial sense. Channel 4 has a growing audience and has made record profits.
"Channel 4 has a long and illustrious history of innovative commissioning, allowing creative production all across the UK - with Scotland an especially strong centre for programme making.
"Channel 4 News is universally recognised for its outstanding journalism. Privatisation would have threatened its long format news.
"And profit focussed decision making put at risk the future of ‘Unreported World’ - Channel 4’s award winning documentary strand which is expensive to make but an invaluable resource for viewers."
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) attempted to downplay the letter, saying: "We do not comment on speculation.
"The DCMS Secretary of State has been clear that we are looking again at the business case for the sale of Channel 4. We will announce more on our plans in due course."
Channel 4 is owned by a state-owned company but entirely funded through advertising, unlike the BBC which is funded through the licence fee.
Johnson’s stated reason for seeking to privatise the broadcaster was to ensure its long-term sustainability, though he was accused of targeting it for political reasons, with the channel seen as being more to the left than its competitors.
Last year it posted record revenues of £1 billion – its strongest-ever financial performance.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel