Plans to privatise Channel 4 have been axed, the tradition secretary has confirmed.
Instead, it can stay publicly owned, with reforms to assist enhance its sustainability and business freedom, Michelle Donelan stated.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport stated the broadcaster will stay in public possession “but with greater commercial flexibility, increased investment in skills and jobs across the UK” in addition to “new production arrangements to support its long-term sustainability and growth”.
It stated the choice had been made following discussions with Channel 4 and the unbiased manufacturing sector and {that a} bundle of latest measures would function a substitute for the sale.
Channel 4 welcomed the choice for it to stay “safely in the hands of the British people”, saying it could enable the broadcaster to additional help inventive jobs and expertise throughout the UK.
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Ms Donelan’s predecessor Nadine Dorries had introduced throughout former PM Boris Johnson’s premiership that the broadcaster can be taken out of public possession.
When Ms Dorries introduced the plans, she stated it was so the broadcaster can higher survive in a media panorama dominated by the likes of Netflix and Amazon.
But a leaked letter written by Ms Donelan to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, seen by The News Agents podcast on Wednesday, revealed the tradition secretary was set to scrap the coverage.
Announcing the federal government U-turn at the moment, Ms Donelan stated Channel 4 is “a British success story and a linchpin of our booming creative industries”.
She stated: “After reviewing the business case and engaging with the relevant sectors I have decided that Channel 4 should not be sold.
“This announcement will carry big alternatives throughout the UK with Channel 4’s dedication to double their expertise funding to £10m and double the variety of jobs outdoors of London.
“The package will also safeguard the future of our world leading independent production sector.
“We will work intently with them so as to add new protections reminiscent of rising the quantity of content material C4C should fee from unbiased producers.”
Last night, Ms Dorries hit out at the reversal of the plan, tweeting: “Three years of a progressive Tory authorities being washed down the drain. Levelling up, dumped. Social care reform, dumped. Keeping younger and weak individuals secure on-line, watered down.
“A bonfire of EU leg, not happening. Sale of C4 giving back £2b reversed. Replaced with what?
“A coverage at a while sooner or later to show maths for longer with lecturers we do not but even have to take action,” she wrote, in an apparent attack on Mr Sunak’s plans for all pupils in England to study some form of maths until the age of 18.
She added: “Where is the mandate – who voted for this?”
Created in 1982 by the Conservative government of Baroness Thatcher, Channel 4 is entirely funded by advertising, out of public ownership. Everything it airs is commissioned from external production companies.
Channel 4 said in a statement: “For over 40 years Channel 4 has been a keystone of Britain’s common, free, public service broadcasting structure. We have spoken up for various and younger audiences throughout the UK, nurtured new expertise and held energy to account.
“But standing still has never been an option for Channel 4 throughout our history. Indeed, our next stage of evolution is already well under way.”
Source: information.sky.com”