Backbench revolt seeks to take Channel 4 privatization off the table

Ministers have been eyeing ways to offload the publicly-owned broadcaster amid widespread disruption to the television landscape by streaming giants muscling in on Channel 4’s turf.

Seeking to take any such sale off the table, the signatories wrote: “Margaret Thatcher created Channel 4 as a publicly owned, non-profit public sector broadcaster that would act as an incubator for independent, risk-taking, innovative private sector companies. She had a vision to level up the broadcasting landscape and she succeeded spectacularly well. We should maintain her legacy, not put it at risk.”

Channel 4’s proponents argue that it is self-sufficient and plays a vital role in sending business to small independent production companies outside London – activity that might come under threat via a less benevolent owner. The authors conclude: “To put it simply: Channel 4 isn’t broke, and doesn’t need fixing.”

Channel 4 is funded by advertising despite being owned by the government, and has a remit to produce programming of relevance to under-served audiences through a nations and regions quota requiring 35% of commissioned content to originate outside the capital.

A DCMS spokesperson was unmoved by the letter, stating: “There is a wealth of evidence on the challenges for linear TV broadcasters, and it is right we consider a change in ownership to support Channel 4’s long-term sustainability.”

Channel 4 recently unveiled its new Leeds HQ with a banner declaring that “there’s life outside the M25.”