This will inevitably seem naïve but, just for a moment, set aside all conspiracy theories and take the Government at its word that it genuinely believes that “a new ownership model” would best protect the future of Channel 4 as a public service broadcaster.Īfter all, it is an incontrovertible fact that national public service broadcasters everywhere are coming under intensifying financial and ratings pressure particularly from the rise of the international streaming giants and the power of their subscription bases spread across the world. Instead the witnesses have been led and a sale or privatisation looks like a fait accompli. You could be forgiven, therefore, for thinking this is a done deal and the consultation process mere window dressing, particularly as merchant banks are thought to be already lining up for the privatisation fees and a White Paper is planned for later this year.Ī truly open process would have set out three equal and perfectly rational options for the future of Channel 4 – maintenance of the status quo, modification of the status quo to give the channel greater freedom to raise capital and a third option, which might then have looked like the disruptive tearing up of nearly 40 years of public ownership. Private investment would also mean more content and more jobs, Dowden believes. He adds that there were constraints that come with public ownership and a new owner could bring access and benefits, including access to capital, to strategic partnerships and to international markets. “It is our current view, to be tested through this consultation, that a new ownership model for Channel 4 would be the best means of ensuring its future success and sustainability as a public service broadcaster and its continued contribution to the UK creative industries,” Dowden argues. In his foreword, culture secretary Oliver Dowden puts some flesh on the bare bones of the planned privatisation. Unfortunately the most interesting question of all is whether there is any point in taking part given the Government’s expressed attitude.Īs the executive summary of the Government’s consultation document states unambiguously: “The Government’s preferred option is to facilitate a change of ownership of Channel 4,” which is a euphemism for the “P” word – privatisation. The consultation period on the future of Channel 4 closes, dramatically, at 23.45 hours on Tuesday, 14 September, 2021. Ray Snoddy analyses the Government’s consultation document on the future of Channel 4 and warns of messing with an already successful broadcasting formula
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