Government To Keep A Close Eye On Channel 4
Channel 4 faces close scrutiny from the government in the wake of Ofcom’s investigation into the broadcaster’s public service remit, after a warning from culture secretary Tessa Jowell.
Jowell said last night at the Royal Television Society that C4’s future performance would be closely scrutinised, adding that recent blunders, such as another flare of the Big Brother racism row (see Hundreds Rally Against C4’s Decision To Evict ‘Racist’ Housemate) and the airing of a controversial Princess Diana documentary (see Channel 4’s Diana Doco Watched By More Adults Than BB) had not been its finest hour.
However, Jowell confirmed that the government was giving the go-ahead to Channel 4’s digital switchover capital costs of around £14 million, to be funded from the BBC licence fee.
She said: “The recent past has not been the Channel’s finest hour. Mistakes have been made – but also lessons learned – and Channel 4 must understand that its performance will continue to be very closely scrutinised.”
Last night she urged Channel 4 to stick more closely to its public service remit, echoing comments made by Ofcom last week in its report on the broadcaster’s future funding (see Channel 4 Must Focus On PSB Future).
“Channel 4 has always been at its strongest when it has closely adhered to its public purpose: innovative, educational, distinctive and appealing to diverse audiences,” said the secretary for culture, media and sport.
“These are the reasons it was created in the first place… Channel 4 has had an important role as a key source of public service competition, as well as a catalyst for the development of a world-beating independent sector and an important contributor to the wider creative economy. The government wants to see that continue.”
Jowell said last night that she had decided in favour of using licence fee money for Channel 4’s switchover after Ofcom concluded last week in its report on the broadcaster’s finances that it would face financial uncertainties after 2010.
“Despite the profound changes ahead for the television sector in the coming years, I remain convinced that the case for public service broadcasting will endure,” she stressed.
“Channel 4’s ability to deliver public service broadcasting in the future is likely to come under sustained pressure in just a few years.”
The licence fee assistance for Channel 4 will have to be approved by the European Commission before it can proceed.
She also said the government was bringing forward its own review of the future funding of public service broadcasting, adding that the BBC had a “critical role” in PSB delivery in the digital age.
The Channel 4 chief executive, Andy Duncan, welcomed Jowell’s announcement.
“We’re delighted the Secretary of State has agreed this measure to meet Channel 4’s capital costs of switchover,” Duncan said. “This is important transitional help that will underpin our public service contribution while we work with Ofcom and the government to identify the most appropriate forms of medium to long-term intervention.”
He added: “We believe the decision to bring forward the government’s review of public service broadcasting funding demonstrates the priority being given to securing Channel 4’s public service future.”
Last week, Channel 4 announced it was launching its own strategic review of its public service programming remit, following the Ofcom report on the broadcaster’s finances (see Channel 4 To Launch Two-Stage Remit Review).
Channel 4: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com