Channel 4 to be sold off in largest privatisation since Royal Mail | News

The government is pushing ahead with plans to privatise Channel 4 in what will be the biggest sale of a state-owned asset since Royal Mail in 2013.

Ministers will end months of speculation by using the forthcoming Media Bill to pursue a potential £1 billion sale of Channel 4, unravelling a broadcasting business model created by Margaret Thatcher 40 years ago.

Government sources said Channel 4’s ownership structure has become a “straitjacket”, which would prevent it from competing effectively with deep-pocketed rivals, such as Netflix.

They said new ownership would allow Channel 4 to access more capital, make and sell its own programmes, and invest in overseas expansion. “We expect a lot of interest in purchasing Channel 4 from a range of serious buyers