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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2021 to Question 59963 on Channel Four Television, whether her Department has made an estimate of the annual value of the (a) intellectual property and (b) exports generated for independent producers by working with Channel 4.

The government has not decided to sell Channel 4, or how Channel 4 may be sold.

We have consulted on the best ownership model to support Channel 4 into the future. Our public consultation closed on 14 September. The government's view on policy choices, including the publisher-broadcaster model, will be informed by the consultation responses, which we are still analysing.

Whatever decision is made about Channel 4’s ownership model, any reforms will not compromise our commitment to the independent production sector or the wider creative economy.

If we were to decide to proceed with a sale, as with the sale of any government asset, it would need to meet stringent scrutiny processes to ensure value for money is achieved for the taxpayer.