Channel 4 to be privatised

[Aaron.TV]

What is Channel 4 actually offering currently that’s special or particularly different? Nothing, really. Gogglebox mainly, and Bake Off which they had to poach. Ratings for a lot of slots are absolutely dire, and I’m not convinced there’s a dramatic PSB benefit from Channel 4’s output currently.

Also, Nadine Dorries is technically correct because the debts incurred by Channel 4 sit on the Government’s books.

[Worzel]

[mention]ConorM98[/mention] Let's keep to the discussion in hand and not digress into a political rant. We don't want to be issuing warnings. Thank you.

Getting back to the context of this thread. I think it going up for sale in 2024 seems likely, but as has already been said, if a general election is brought forward might derail matters.

[ConorM98]

Getting back to the context of this thread. I think it going up for sale in 2024 seems likely, but as has already been said, if a general election is brought forward might derail matters.

I hope so.

[London Lite]

I think the best we can hope for is that the remit to provide an independent analytical news programme continues to be part of C4's PSB licence.

The days of the alternative C4 have long gone sadly, It's a Sin was probably the last drama series where it had it's roots in providing that type of drama which wouldn't be on BBC One or ITV.

If you think C4 is bad as it is with lazy or cheap formats currently, it'll get worse as a fully commercial channel where the channel will have to answer to shareholders as part of a larger media group. C5 under Paramount Global has become more successful, but it's vanilla with it.

[James2001]

I think the best we can hope for is that the remit to provide an independent analytical news programme continues to be part of C4's PSB licence.

I doubt it. Said news programme is likely much of the reason why the government are gunning for channel 4.

[London Lite]

I think the best we can hope for is that the remit to provide an independent analytical news programme continues to be part of C4's PSB licence.

I doubt it. Said news programme is likely much of the reason why the government are gunning for channel 4.

I wouldn't mind but the recent exposes on government behaviour have come from ITV News which has a bigger audience than C4.

[Internationalman]

Personally, I hope the privatization effort fails, and fails HARD.

[Brekkie]

We'll see where it goes but let's not pretend it isn't a politically motivated decision. There is very little support for it within the industry but they knew that before they announced the decision. Part of me thinks the timing is a distraction and when they need another distraction a U-turn will come in handy, but sadly part of me thinks it's a battle lost and privatisation rarely turns out to be better for the public at large, or indeed ultimately the country.


Another part of me thinks maybe this will give it true independence from government - but the fear is that the ultimate buyer will not be truly independent one way or another. If a reputable buyer with an ethos and leaning in line with C4's values ended up owning it and respecting it's history and mission and seeing that is where the value in the company is it could turn out to fulfil the narrative Nadine Dorres is trying to sell and unshackle it from it's current model to reach it's full potential. However I just don't see beyond it falling into the hands of even some major foreign conglomerate or just some UK investment fund only in it for the money, but there are three potential options who might be a good fit.

- BT - the only option IMO to keep it British. However with them effectively exiting from BT Sport I can't see them taking on the investment in a major PSB and it wouldn't really fit in their model of using a TV service to sell broadband.

- AMC - the US network which although fully commercial has a line up of dramas at least which are a natural fit for the C4 audience, and a fledgling AMC+ streaming service which could work in conjunction with a revamped All4. However as a smaller player in the market not sure it would be something they'd fund, and if they did their might be a debt burden involved.

- Canal+ - obviously most known for their French pay-TV service but original content wise like AMC it's a line up which is more C4 than any other channel. However no signs they've made investments such as this in their fairly long history.


We'll see what happens of course and be largely powerless to do much about it unless a general election comes before the final sale is agreed. I've a feeling though this may only be the start of the story rather than the end.

[Larry the Loafer]

The thought of Channel 4 being bought out by a big media conglomerate sounds like some hideous Paul Akinbola fever dream.

[Gary Baldy]

What is Channel 4 actually offering currently that’s special or particularly different? Nothing, really. Gogglebox mainly, and Bake Off which they had to poach. Ratings for a lot of slots are absolutely dire, and I’m not convinced there’s a dramatic PSB benefit from Channel 4’s output currently.

Also, Nadine Dorries is technically correct because the debts incurred by Channel 4 sit on the Government’s books.

The Paralympics has done well for them, and The Last Leg (though admittedly the latter has gone stale).

Naked Attraction is also an interesting unique twist on the dating show format.

As well as Countdown and the Cats spin-off having cult followings- the latter still achieving very good ratings.

[London Lite]

- Canal+ - obviously most known for their French pay-TV service but original content wise like AMC it's a line up which is more C4 than any other channel. However no signs they've made investments such as this in their fairly long history.

Canal+ is owned by Vivendi who's owner has been on a mission to transform their news channel into a right-wing opinion channel, so I don't think having them as an owner of what is perceived to be a liberally leaning television channel would be in the best interests. It'd be no different to News UK owning C4.

Warner Bros. Discovery I think is the best bet for the future of the channel which would allow them to continue to commission credible factual and entertainment shows. It will of course be more commercially focused, but there are other options which would be much worse.

[Internationalman]

- Canal+ - obviously most known for their French pay-TV service but original content wise like AMC it's a line up which is more C4 than any other channel. However no signs they've made investments such as this in their fairly long history.

Canal+ is owned by Vivendi who's owner has been on a mission to transform their news channel into a right-wing opinion channel, so I don't think having them as an owner of what is perceived to be a liberally leaning television channel would be in the best interests. It'd be no different to News UK owning C4.

Warner Bros. Discovery I think is the best bet for the future of the channel which would allow them to continue to commission credible factual and entertainment shows. It will of course be more commercially focused, but there are other options which would be much worse.

Absolutely. It will also position it as a competitor to Channel 5 and Paramount. I still don't want it to happen, though.

[Aaron.TV]

What is Channel 4 actually offering currently that’s special or particularly different? Nothing, really. Gogglebox mainly, and Bake Off which they had to poach. Ratings for a lot of slots are absolutely dire, and I’m not convinced there’s a dramatic PSB benefit from Channel 4’s output currently.

Also, Nadine Dorries is technically correct because the debts incurred by Channel 4 sit on the Government’s books.

The Paralympics has done well for them, and The Last Leg (though admittedly the latter has gone stale).

Naked Attraction is also an interesting unique twist on the dating show format.

As well as Countdown and the Cats spin-off having cult followings- the latter still achieving very good ratings.

I’m not convinced those few shows alone make the case not to privatise Channel 4 though. Most slots are performing pretty poorly aside from the handful you’ve mentioned, and I just don’t see how Channel 4 is having a PSB impact at all.

Amongst all of the faux outrage and dramatics, I’m yet to actually see an argument for retaining Channel 4’s current ownership structure, nobody seems to be able to make one…

[lobster]

[mention]Aaron.TV[/mention]

I’m with you on this.

It’s sad for reasons of nostalgia and sentimentality, but the schedule has been dire for years now, and the days of C4 being somewhere where you could find some genuine alternative programmes, comedy and views that you couldn’t find anywhere else were really 30 years ago.

If you don’t believe me, check out the schedule for any day this week.

[Brekkie]

Absolutely. It will also position it as a competitor to Channel 5 and Paramount. I still don't want it to happen, though.

It move is designed supposedly to make it a competitor to Netflix and Prime though, not what in the UK is a fairly small time player in Paramount, as is Discovery really.