The controversial decision to sell the broadcaster, which was founded in 1982, follows a consultation on its future, a government source told the Independent. He is expected to be part of a draft media bill that will be unveiled in the Queen’s speech – setting out the upcoming agenda of the Boris Johnson’s government – next month. The source said the sale would be part of reforms “to modernize and maintain the UK’s public service broadcasting industry”, but the move was met with frustration by Channel 4 and TV companies. “Ministers have decided that while C4 as a business is currently performing well, state ownership is holding it back in the face of a rapidly changing and competitive media landscape,” the source added. “A change of ownership will remove his tight jacket, giving C4 the freedom to innovate and grow, so that it can flourish and thrive for a long time to come and support all of the UK’s creative industries.” A spokesman for the station said he was “disappointed” with the decision, but would “continue to work” with the government on the process “to ensure that Channel 4 continues to play its unique role in its creative ecology and national life. Of Britain “. He said “significant public interest concerns” were raised during the consultation, which was launched by the Ministry of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports last year. The move – unveiled during the break-up of the Communities – was condemned by Westminster’s opposition parties, including Labor, who described it as “cultural vandalism” and warned it would cost jobs in the north. “Nothing screams a government without a rudder like the announcements on Channel 4, while the people’s energy bills are on the roof,” said Lucy Powell, the party’s shadow culture secretary. Damian Green, a former Conservative cabinet minister, added: “The Channel 4 sale is because politicians and civil servants think they know more about how to run a business than the people who run it. Very anti-conservative. “Mrs. Thatcher, who created it, never made that mistake.” Channel 4 had previously stated that there was a lack of evidence to justify its sale and warned that privatization could lead to “reduced diversity and quality of content for UK viewers”. In an internal e-mail Monday informing staff of the ministers’ decision, the station’s chief executive, Alex Mahon, said her priority was to “take care of all of you and the wonderful spirit of Channel 4”. He said: “In our commitment to the government during its extended period of reflection, we have proposed a vision for the next 40 years, which we are confident will allow us to build on the successes of the first 40 years. “This vision was rooted in ongoing public ownership and was based on the enormous public value that this model has offered to date and the opportunity to offer much more in the future. “But in the end the ownership of C4 belongs to the government to propose and the parliament to decide. “Our job is to offer what parliament owes us to do, and if or when that changes, then I’m sure this incredible body will respond to the relentless action it has always taken to pursue its goals and mission. of”. The government source said the ministers planned to use the proceeds of the sale to fund “independent production and improve wider creative skills in the country’s priority areas”. They said that Channel 4 will remain a public broadcaster with a commitment to the first hour news. However, Pact, the commercial body representing independent UK companies, urged the government to reconsider the sale. John McVay, CEO of Pact, said: “The privatization of Channel 4 is unnecessary and threatens to hurt the UK’s global independent television and film industry. Channel 4 is vital to our industry, both as a program commissioner and because of its role in helping start-ups take their first break, especially businesses outside the M25. “Unlike other broadcasters, it does not do any of its in-house programs – but a private owner could shift production away from independent producers to reduce costs, with a negative impact on the wider industry.”
