Channel Four Chief Calls For Abolition Of BBC Board Of Governors

Michael Jackson, chief executive of Channel 4, has called for the abolition of the BBC’s board of governors, saying it is “Not an adequate or sustainable form of independent regulation.” Mr Jackson stated this view as part of the Royal Television Society’s annual Fleming Memorial Lecture. At the same time he stated his opposition to the idea of privatising Channel 4 and announced a new joint venture with Warner Brothers.

An audience of industry peers heard how Jackson, drawing on his experience of working for both the BBC and Channel 4, felt that the only way to encourage growth and “provide a level competitive playing field” was to create “a single regulatory structure for all broadcasters, public and commercial.”

Jackson’s lecture outlined not only how TV broadcasting had changed over the years, but also pointed out the difference in style and remit between Channel 4 and other broadcasters. He partly attributed this to how different channels are funded: “The BBC does extraordinarily valuable work as a universal national broadcaster. But by the nature of its funding, it can’t be in the vanguard. It can’t risk overly offending…The ITV companies are different, too. ITV is currently buying up some of the bigger independent production companies. Nothing wrong with that – but the point is that they would never have sponsored and nurtured them in the first place. It’s Channel 4’s role to innovate in the creative economy, ITV’s to follow.”

Jackson claimed that his channel was “perfectly placed at the crux of the public and the private.” He explained his opposition to privatisation by explaining “At the moment we provide dividend not to shareholders, but to viewers.” However, he acknowledged that without government subsidy, diversification was necessary in order to remain competitive.

News of the latest contribution to Channel 4’s diversity was announced at the same time. FilmFour is to team up with Warner Bros. Pictures to co-produce seven big-budget films over the next three years as a joint label. The first film to be made under this arrangement is to be Charlotte Gray and will star Cate Blanchett.

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