Tag Archives: Channel 4 privatisation

Broadcasting White Paper published

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Paul Evans

The DCMS has published its Broadcasting White Paper promising “a new golden age of programming” with changes to regulations on SVoDs, sports rights, and the privatisation of Channel 4. One change is that C4 will be able to start producing … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, SVoD | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A distinctly British focus for TV programmes

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Paul Evans

David Tennant has been questioning some of the arguments around demands for ‘distinctly British programmes (or ‘lovely jubbly telly‘ as John Whittingdale didn’t say recently). “Is there some inherent criticism within this plea for more Britishness?” he said in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Lovely Jubbly Telly Rule – and will Channel Four privatisation go ahead?

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

In an interesting twist to the cultural diversity on the screen debate, as UK-commissioned productions sector face a perfect storm that could threaten the UK’s long-established ability to produce TV content, written by UK writers, featuring UK actors and locations, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Regulation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ampere Analysis – strong case against privatisation of Channel Four

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

A strong thread here from Ampere Analysis, and a detailed report of their findings is here in The Guardian. Ampere has assessed a range of potential options surrounding the privatisation of @Channel4. Here is what we found: — Ampere Analysis … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, Sports rights and broadcasting, SVoD | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Channel Four privatisation: Advertisers voice concerns about damaged competitiveness

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

… particularly if sold to ITV or Sky. The FT [£] reports… “Isba [Incorporated Society of British Advertisers] also said there was a “substantial risk” that Channel 4 programming appealing to a young and diverse audience would be “diluted and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Regulation, SVoD, TV Advertising | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cultural Diversity is not just about limiting discrimination – it’s an economic and industrial factor

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

It’s worth bookmarking Unesco’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions here. This is an important global statement on the need for cultural expressions to be produced, distributed, and owned ‘locally’ (in the Nations and … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Economics, Equality, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Race equality, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Channel Four privatisation – picking though the arguments

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

Yesterday’s FT [£] had a useful reminder of the objections to Channel Four privatisation, or more accurately, a critique of the reasons for privatising the channel. The sale has a number of objectives: Making the broadcaster more sustainable. John Whittingdale … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Film & TV industry data, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Edinburgh TV Festival debates C4 sell-off

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

Broadcast has a report here [£]. In a statement that my be dismissed as hyperbole, John Thoday of Avalon says C4 privatisation will “kill the indie sector” and calls for the government to give C4 in it’s current form a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Government deliberately delaying decisions about appointments to Channel 4’s board

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

According to the Times, @StewartPurvis, who stepped down as board member of Channel 4 says the Govt is deliberately delaying decisions about appointments to Channel 4’s board because it wants to install people sympathetic to privatisation pic.twitter.com/GbkVMLClEc — Joe Public … Continue reading →

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Channel 4 and mutual ownership – Labour proposal

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Paul Evans

There have been quite a few posts on here already about C4 privatisation. This is an interesting twist, from The Co-operative Party (sister-party to the UK Labour Party) – proposing that control of Channel 4 could (via Broadcast [£]) be … Continue reading →

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Ownership & Control, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Oxford Media Convention debate on Channel Four privatisation

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Paul Evans
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More on Channel Four privatisation

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

In 2016 (the last time it was mooted) Patrick Barwise and Gillian Brooks were commissioned by Channel 4 to write a report entitled ‘The Consequences of Privatising Channel 4′ [pdf] all of which may prove useful to anyone responding to … Continue reading →

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Karen Bradley and David Olusoga on Channel Four privatisation

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

Firstly, there’s this from Tory former Culture Secretary Karen Bradley(£) – here. “…as culture secretary in 2017, I conducted a review into this very issue. That review found that Channel 4 has a significant positive impact on life in the … Continue reading →

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British content projecting Britain

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

I’ll be posting more on this in the coming weeks, but there are some very big concerns circulating even in Conservative circles about the potential damage that the UK could sustain due to changes in the film and TV industry. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation & VFX, BBC, Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Culture policy, EU & Brexit, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Tax incentives, The Conservative Party, UK studios | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

“Gogglebox presents people like us and is made in Britain for Britain”

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Paul Evans

I knew I’d seen a good defence of Channel 4’s Public Service Broadcaster remit, but I couldn’t remember where until I visited the VLV website earlier and saw this [pdf] from Channel 4’s CEO Alex Mahon. “Online business cannot fill … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, SVoD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Scottish government opposes Channel 4 sell-off

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Scottish government is opposing the sell-off of Channel 4. The broadcaster has spent more than £200m on Scottish commissions since 2007 In 2020 it spent £19m in Scotland Channel 4’s features and daytime team is based in Glasgow The … Continue reading →

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BBC & Channel 4’s contribution to the UK economy

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

Channel 4 recently published a study by Ernst and Young of the Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy [pdf]  from their activity. This report focuses on the contribution to the Nations and Regions of the UK and concludes … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Economics, Employment, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, Productivity, Public Service Broadcasting | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Opposing the privatisation of Channel 4

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

Bectu members (and everyone else) is encouraged to support the union’s campaign against the privatisation of Channel 4 and the union has a template letter that can be sent to MPs here. Please bookmark that page as it may have … Continue reading →

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Channel 4 privatisation consultation published

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Paul Evans

Government have published the consultation on C4 privatisation. Key thing to note is confirmation of the preferred option…. “The government’s preferred option is to facilitate a change of ownership of Channel 4, which it believes will give it greater access … Continue reading →

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