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Dubbed the biggest privatisation since Royal Mail, Channel 4 will go up for sale ahead of the next general election, the Government has announced.
The decision, which was confirmed on Monday, came as concerns about Channel 4’s finances were exacerbated by the Covid pandemic. Now, a foreign owner could step in to take over the broadcaster, which will likely have a £1billion price tag.
However, the Government is facing a ferocious backlash from across the political spectrum over the decision. Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, described the move as the “opposite of levelling up” and Labour has accused the Government of “cultural vandalism”.
Our readers reacted to the news with mixed emotions. Many support the Government’s decision, arguing that there is no need for state involvement in today’s multichannel world, and wish for the BBC to follow suit. Meanwhile, others have reflected on the channel’s great history and worry over what it will become under new ownership.
Read on to see what your fellow readers had to say.
‘Channel 4 is a dinosaur’
@Rusty Nail:
“Channel 4 was a breath of fresh air back in the 80s and 90s. But come the new millennium it started going down the ‘woke’ road, and after Jon Snow’s comment, it was just a matter of time before it would be ready to be dumped into private hands.
“There is too much choice these days, and Channel 4 is a dinosaur, just like the BBC and ITV.”
‘Channel 4 is a jewel in the Government’s crown’
@Whistle Down The Wind:
“The Government does not manage or control Channel 4. It runs itself like a private company, making great profits from advertising, which many people keep demanding for the BBC.
“Channel 4 has made some of the great dramas and series over its 40-odd-year history and supports the independent arts.
“It is a jewel in the Government’s crown, something good that Margaret Thatcher did! It ain’t broke and doesn’t need fixing.”
‘Times have changed’
@James Frost:
“The arguments in favour of privatising Channel 4 have zero to do with politics. Channel 4 was introduced at a time when the broadcasting landscape contained far fewer channels, to give small scale producers an extra channel upon which their output might be featured.
“Times have changed: there are loads of channels around. Channel 4 should be sold off.”
‘This will be of a negative impact to society’
@Ross Brooker:
“Well I, for one, enjoy a lot of the evening programs, especially the comedy and the selection of live sport, which is more than the BBC offers.
“It will be a shame if the programming options to watch something of bias is removed, and I can’t help but feel this will be of a negative impact to society in general.”
‘Channel 4 should welcome the freedom’
@Lionel Woodcock:
“Who can deny the rather rabid anti-Tory bias of Channel 4 news? That, of course, is a permissible bias in a free speech society.
“However, that part should not be funded by the public, who do not share its stance and have no choice.
“I don’t think their political bias has much influence anyway, as it is too extreme and too repetitive, and consequently discounted. But let the market decide.
“Their good content will be watched and will be profitable. They should welcome the freedom and respect of earning a place in the market, without subsidy.”
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