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+--- Thread: Channel 4 to be privatised (/showthread.php?tid=1064)
Channel 4 to be privatised - AlfieMulcahy - 04-04-2022
https://twitter.com/scottygb/status/1511038014037938178?t=MHePbtqnRLf_ae53tLUmGw&s=19
Privatisation is unfortunately back on the cards it seems
Channel 4 - JetixFann450 - 04-04-2022
This seems to be a devastating state of affairs. Channel 4 has always been built to be an alternative, and to see it be sold off and turned into what I could only describe as the current form of Channel 5 is scary.
I dread to think what sort of company would acquire Channel 4, most likely Warner Bros Discovery. :?
Channel 4 - MrBiggieSMLZ - 04-04-2022
AlfieMulcahy post_id=77087 time= user_id=1048 Wrote:https://twitter.com/scottygb/status/1511038014037938178?t=MHePbtqnRLf_ae53tLUmGw&s=19Sheesh, I just wonder how long it took for them to make their mind up about their future in government's hands... :o
Privatisation is unfortunately back on the cards it seems
Channel 4 - Omnipresent - 04-04-2022
A key sentence in the fifth paragraph of Alex Mahon's e-mail. Channel 4's fate is ultimately determined by Parliament, not Government. The legislation does have to work its way through the House of Commons and House of Lords first.
Channel 4 - MrBiggieSMLZ - 04-04-2022
To be fair, I just struggle to envision how Channel 4 and its components could co-exist under ITV or Sky's ownership. To me, the only logical suitors seems to be Warner Bros. Discovery, BT, and to a lesser extent, Virgin Media.
Channel 4 - Roger Darthwell - 04-04-2022
Goodness me......what a day this has been
Channel 4 to be privatised - Brekkie - 04-04-2022
Omnipresent post_id=77112 time= user_id=858 Wrote:A key sentence in the fifth paragraph of Alex Mahon's e-mail. Channel 4's fate is ultimately determined by Parliament, not Government. The legislation does have to work its way through the House of Commons and House of Lords first.This government has a significant majority. It'll likely go through should it get that far. However the goverment (past and present) seems to go through culture secretaries pretty much annually so it may just get pushed to the back of the in-tray by Nadine's eventual successor.
Hoping to sell by 2024 is basically hoping to sell by the next election - so perhaps the best hope is that an election comes before then, but factors beyond the remit of this forum will determine that - and the result of that election will probably be critical to the future of the BBC and hence the most critical in terms of the state of broadcasting in this country for decades.
Whilst I don't agree at all with the sale of C4 and think in the wrong hands it would be an absolute disaster for British broadcasting I do think if the right buyer came in and understood C4 and it's history perhaps it might just work out in the way the government are trying to sell it - but that is almost fantasy. CBS and Viacom though have done a pretty good job with Channel 10 in Australia for example, and financially at least have done so with C5 here, though perhaps at the cost of some of it's character. However both of those are there purely to make money - C4 has done so much more than that.
There are times too over the last decade where I think C4 have actually gone too PSB at the expense of more commercially attractive content. For me they had the mix right in the noughties where Big Brother and a mixture of UK and US dramas, plus other factual entertainment format, were pulling in the numbers and creating the profits which could then be invested in PSB content. For me at the moment C4 is probably a bit "meh" for want of a better world - not really doing too much of the big attractive commercial style shows, but not doing too much of the strong PSB content too. There is basically a lot of light factual and cheap lifestyle content keeping the channel ticking along, with the occassional splash of content that grabs attention either for bringing in the numbers or doing something worthy that other broadcasters probably wouldn't.
I think a company like AMC or perhaps Canal could be a good fit for example if looking at foreign buyers, though ideally it would remain in British hands, but not just an investment fund or something.
Channel 4 - Omnipresent - 04-04-2022
Full statement from Channel 4:
https://www.channel4.com/press/news/statement-governments-proposal-privatise-channel-4
Quote:With over 60,000 submissions to the Government’s public consultation, it is disappointing that today’s announcement has been made without formally recognising the significant public interest concerns which have been raised.
Channel 4 has engaged in good faith with the Government throughout the consultation process, demonstrating how it can continue to commission much-loved programmes from the independent sector across the UK that represent and celebrate every aspect of British life as well as increase its contribution to society, while maintaining ownership by the public.
Recently, Channel 4 presented DCMS with a real alternative to privatisation that would safeguard its future financial stability, allowing it to do significantly more for the British public, the creative industries and the economy, particularly outside London. This is particularly important given that the organisation is only 2 years into a significant commitment to drive up its impact in the UK’s Nations and Regions.
Channel 4 remains legally committed to its unique public-service remit. The focus for the organisation will be on how we can ensure we deliver the remit to both our viewers and the British creative economy across the whole of the UK.
The proposal to privatise Channel 4 will require a lengthy legislative process and political debate. We will of course continue to engage with DCMS, Government and Parliament, and do everything we can to ensure that Channel 4 continues to play its unique part in Britain’s creative ecology and national life.
Channel 4 - DTV - 04-04-2022
Omnipresent post_id=77112 time= user_id=858 Wrote:A key sentence in the fifth paragraph of Alex Mahon's e-mail. Channel 4's fate is ultimately determined by Parliament, not Government. The legislation does have to work its way through the House of Commons and House of Lords first.
Without wanting to go into full political science lecturer mode, that is certainly true in constitutional theory, but not really in practice. The chances of a sizeable Commons rebellion over this are low (a successful one even lower). I imagine there will be some opposition in the Lords, but there is still time in this parliament for the Parliament Act 1949 to be used (which would allow the government to bypass the Lords). Fundamentally, with an 80-seat Commons majority a government can pretty much do what it likes and if that includes privatising Channel 4, Channel 4 will be privatised.
Channel 4 to be privatised - technologist - 04-04-2022
The DCMS and OFCOM have not completed the PSB review …
Does the UK require 4 PSB plus PSB in Welsh and Gaelic
and give PSB like EPG Prominence to Local tv.
Answer the “do we need about a dozen PSB tv channels?” Question
And the future of Ch 4 become clear …
But what’s its value ?
It holds few rights, it has a good ad sales department , and an expensive Westminster building.
And an broadcasting income Which is very variable
( Which is why itv gets most of its income from non broadcasting ..it’s the largest USA indie)
It also has a large amount of data about its audience thanks to all 4 ..\that may be a great asset.
Channel 4 to be privatised - Inspector Sands - 04-04-2022
https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1511046785707487234?t=87iGO0UfFcK5wJswGVlM5w&s=19
Doesn't surprise me from this government, nor does this:
Channel 4 to be privatised - TVNerd - 04-04-2022
Although this hasn’t been finalised, it’s very sad news and will change the landscape of British television. However, it’s not unexpected given what we have heard before today.
Channel 4 to be privatised - Blubatt - 04-04-2022
Simply put, and I say this from a non partisan or political view, the hostility towards public service broadcasting is at a point now where we are at breaking point. If it isn't the BBC that they want to defund, its Channel 4 they want to privatise. The point of public service broadcasting is to give a voice to the whole of the UK. Its programming is meant to be for anyone and everyone. You can have a public service remit, but that's just news for channels like ITV and Channel 5. PSB is more than that, and trying to get rid of it by removing the licence fee or privatising Channel 4 is a crime.
Channel 4 to be privatised - Worzel - 04-04-2022
Roger Darthwell post_id=77117 time= user_id=1160 Wrote:Goodness me......what a day this has been
Start of the new financial year (although that doesn't explain the Gray's Inn Road power cut - unless someone forgot to put £150 in the meter).
Channel 4 to be privatised - Roger Darthwell - 04-04-2022
Worzel post_id=77160 time= user_id=1259 Wrote:I didn't know that, thank you WorzelRoger Darthwell post_id=77117 time= user_id=1160 Wrote:Goodness me......what a day this has been
Start of the new financial year (although that doesn't explain the Gray's Inn Road power cut - unless someone forgot to put £150 in the meter).