Channel Four Television: Privatisation

(asked on 10th October 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to publish a new consultation on the future ownership of Channel 4 Television Corporation.


Answered by
Julia Lopez Portrait
Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This question was answered on 18th October 2022

Channel 4 is a great UK success story and, in a rapidly changing media landscape, the government wants it to thrive in the long-term while maintaining its distinctiveness.

As set out in our recent white paper, Up Next - the Government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, Channel 4 - along with all broadcasters - is facing challenges to its future success and sustainability. This is due to the rapidly evolving media landscape, including unprecedented competition for viewers, programmes and talent from overseas as well as new, rapidly growing, streaming platforms.

As the Prime Minister has said, it is right that we look at the business case for a sale of Channel 4, and the Secretary of State has confirmed she is doing that. We will set out further detail in due course.

The Government consulted extensively on the future of Channel 4 last year and has no plans to reconsult at this time.

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