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

To ask His Majesty's Government why they are reviewing the business case for the sale of Channel 4 prior to the conclusions of their review of public service broadcasting.

His Majesty’s Government is committed to ensuring that the public service broadcasting system can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences, now and in the future.

The principal conclusions of the public service broadcasting review were outlined in our broadcasting white paper, Up Next – the Government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, which was published in April this year. The white paper set out that 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.

Channel 4 is a great UK success story. In a rapidly changing media landscape, the Government wants it to thrive in the long term while maintaining its distinctiveness. The Secretary of State is reviewing the business case for a sale of Channel 4 and will set out more detail in due course. In doing so, she will be able to draw on the conclusions of the strategic review as set out in the White Paper.