Jowell Mulling Licence Fee Gift To Channel 4

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell is reportedly considering a one-off cash payment to Channel 4 in order to secure its future following digital switchover, with a paragraph dropped from her speech to the Royal Television Society convention in Cambridge indicating that she is in favour of financial aid to the broadcaster in the near future.

The missing paragraph is believed to have proposed financial assistance sooner rather than later, funded by the licence fee, as well as suggesting other measures, such as extra capacity for the broadcaster to launch digital channels, although neither suggestion was voiced by the Government minister in her address.

Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has long argued for measures to be put in place to safeguard the broadcaster’s future amid a digital only television landscape. Last month saw the broadcast boss tell the Edinburgh International Television Festival that the request for public funding is not an immediate one, but is “about ten years down the line” (see Channel 4 Boss Makes The Case For Public Funding).

“We’re not asking for money now,” he explained. “We’re not asking for anything. What we would like is for the door to be left open for public funding in the future.”

However, Duncan also stated that measures should be put in place as soon as possible in order for them to “kick in” when required “several years down the line.”

“This year, next year, we’re fine,” he told his Edinburgh audience. “Issues start to crop up after switchover. If you look at the implications of switchover and new technology, then it’s a brave man who says ad revenues will be unaffected.”

Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.dcms.gov.uk