Channel 4 needs to be sold off to ensure its survival rather than because of any obsession with privatisation, Lichfield’s MP has said.
The Government outlined plans to privatise the broadcaster last month.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries confirmed the news at the time saying Government ownership was “holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon”.
The issue was raised by Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant at a House of Commons debate yesterday (26th May).
The Conservative MP said their should be “strict conditions” in place over the sell-off, including guarantees of a minimum amount of British programming and innovative content.
The Secretary of State said:
“Channel 4 is being sold, and it is being sold as a public service broadcaster – and those criteria which he has outlined himself will absolutely be in there.
“If anybody cares to read the Broadcasting White Paper, they will see we have put a number of things into the Media Bill, which will help Channel 4, including prominence, including introducing a code which will put all public service broadcasters and streamers on a level playing field in terms of what they can and can’t broadcast in the UK.
“But it is going to be sold as a public service broadcaster, and there will also be a requirement to continue to make distinctive British content – the Derry Girls, Gogglebox, all those programmes that we know are distinctly British.
“There will also be a requirement to do that too, as well as what he has listed.”
Nadine Dorries
Mr Fabricant said falling revenues meant the future of the broadcaster would be best served in private hands.
“Channel 4 carries advertising and most people think that like ITV and Channel 5, it is privately-owned.
“I don’t believe Channel 4 should be sold off because of an obsession with privatisation, I believe it has to be sold off to ensure its survival.
“With Netflix, Prime, Sky, Disney, Now and other subscription services, advertising revenue is falling – Channel 4 has to be given the freedom to innovate which it will have if out of the Treasury’s hands.
“With safeguards in place independent British production companies will still be commissioned for their work – and I might still be able to appear on programmes like First Dates.”
Michael Fabricant
