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 26 October 2021 to Question 59963 on Channel 4, what estimate she has made of the transfer of value if Channel 4 moves from a publicly owned not-for-profit body to a privatised broadcaster if the publisher-broadcaster model is removed.

Channel 4 has played an important role in supporting independent production in the UK. The sector is now flourishing and increasingly less reliant on income from UK Public Service Broadcasters. Independent production has grown exponentially from an estimated worth of £850 million in 2003 to in excess of £3 billion in 2019, driven in particular by the boom in international revenues with 158% growth between 2014 and 2019. In 2014, international revenue accounted for 19% of total producer revenue, whereas in 2019 it accounted for 38%.

We have consulted on the best ownership model to support Channel 4 for years to come. We are carefully considering the views and evidence we have received to inform the government’s policy-making and final decision. Whatever decision we make will not compromise this government’s commitment to the independent production sector.