Culture Sec recommends not to privatise Channel 4

UK Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has recommended not pursuing privatisation of Channel 4 in a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seen by journalists from The News Agents podcast.

In the letter, Donelan stated: “Last year’s consultation of C4C’s future ownership model identified risks to the corporation’s long-term sustainability.

“The view of my predecessor, and the Government of the time, was that selling C4C was the right solution to these challenges.

“However, after reviewing the business case, I have concluded that pursuing a sale at this point is not the right decision and there are better ways to secure C4C’s sustainability and that of the UK independent production sector.”

SCOOP: Letter from Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan to Rishi Sunak confirming her recommendation is that Channel 4 privatisation does NOT go ahead. Says there are “better ways to ensure C4’s sustainability.”

Direct opposite of what the Johnson government said. pic.twitter.com/KOH78NVJjt

— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) January 4, 2023

Previously, Sunak had indicated he would not go ahead with privatising the broadcaster, while Donelan said she was “re-examining the business case” for privatisation.

This marks a change of tone and policy to Boris Johnson’s government where former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries supported the privatisation despite seeming unaware of how it was funded and a public consultation “overwhelmingly” opposing such a move.

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