Forum Topic

Channel 4:  So why does Govt want to sell it off?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve63pA573ZAHow embarrassing for the Minister not knowing that it self-funds through selling advertising space!Could it be because it can be critical?

Philippa Bond ● 1398d19 Comments

Exactly it's my opinion in the same way others have an opinion thats it's a good channel. But that's no reason for retaining in public ownership

Andy Pike ● 1396d

Film4 with its 35 Oscars in 37 years and large repertoire of co-funded award winning documentary films is apparently also up for sale.

Philippa Bond ● 1396d

The fact that in A. Pike's opinion Ch 4 is a "poor channel" is surely not a valid argument for selling it off. It is just one person's opinion - honest, I'm sure, but that's all.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1396d

Why shouldnt it be sold off? It's a pretty poor channel ( in my opinion,) and we are billions in debt. So if the govt can recover some money by selling off some poor costume jewellery let's do it.people on get keep demanding that the govt spend more on xy or z. Without increasing debt there are 3 ways to do so. Decrease spending on some areas, sell an asset increase taxes. Sale of channel 4 meets 2 of those tests.

Andy Pike ● 1397d

I have a question.  My understanding is that Ch4 doesn't produce any programmes itself but buys them all in from independent production companies. Do those production companies have other customers that commission programs from them? Are the programmes commissioned by Ch4 sold to other outlets,  for example, foreign TV companies? Does Ch4 receive any royalties from any such sales, or do the production companies own the royalties?

Michael Ixer ● 1397d

Just look at Andrew Roberts in the Telegraph quoting Robert Conquests second law of politics that any organisation not explicity right wing becomes left wing over time. Stick in the public sector where they don't have to survive in the commercial world & there you go. Channel 4 BBC take your pick. Leftists complaining away that they won't get any more favours.

Paul Rolink ● 1397d

Actually watch Ch 4? Seven days a week if I can make it. I also read the Daily Mail but find it less useful - except to find out what Tories think important. Do you watch Ch 4? If you do, would you miss it if along with other jewels it was junked? If so, why not protest?

Alexander MacLeod ● 1397d

Don't you mean family 'genitals; Mr M.  ( JOKE! ) Or are a person who complains but doesn't actually watch?

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1397d

Ch 4 sell-off plan is part of Johnson/Tories ideology fixation, i.e. private sector wonderful, public sector bad. Also Ch 4 has failed to spout Tory line on key issues and is therefore hated by right-wing. There are no grounds for believing Ch 4 would be better if sold off to (probably) American owners with profit as prime objective. Another case, as Macmillan said all those years ago, of junking the family jewellery.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1398d

Surely not?  ????????????It is such a feeble excuse they are giving, that even by Nadine Dorries' standards, it is so basement low that no one believes them!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1398d

I seem to recall the BBC et al alao get criticised by the deep red end of Labour for being too right wing. The fact they get criticised by the extreme at both ends of the red-yellow-blue spectrum suggests to me they've got the balance about right?As noone (viewers, CH4, production companies, many Tory MPs, etc) seems to want it sold other than the current government one wonders what the hidden agenda is? One wonders if some media tycoon has been donating lots of money somewhere ... no, surely not :-)

Michael Ixer ● 1398d

Selling it off made no sense when they last tried saying it and it makes even less sense now. Comparisons with Netflix are preposterous given the debt that company has amassed. Glad the government have the time and energy to dedicate to such a project though...

Oliver Sampson ● 1398d

Thank you Richard.  I agree, it is totally insane!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1398d

Just another troll, Ivonne: he probably thinks GB News is left wing also.This nonsense about the BBC and Channel 4 being "left wing" is, frankly, bonkers. So they criticise the government sometimes: that's their job, and when we had a Labour government the whiners went that they were right wing!Presumably people like Wood would prefer to watch RT News or Fox, though I think another troll on the forum was complaining that even Fox was too left wing for him.

Richard Carter ● 1398d

What absolute nonsense!!!  CH4 is left leaning??I really do not understand what you mean by this or where this comes from.The station is owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation, a public corporation of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Are you saying the government is left leaning?I would be interested to know which TV station is to your liking.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1398d

My reply wasn't directed at your reply Ben.It was directed at the thread headline regarding the selling off of CH 4.I appreciate anyone left leaning will be in support of CH 4 because the organisation is left leaning.

Tim Wood ● 1398d

Am amazed that you can tell my political leanings from my post Mr Tim Woodamus? Can you tell me who will win the 3:15 at Lingfield tomorrow...

Ben Rainbow ● 1398d

CH 4 is utter garbage and anyone that thinks otherwise will surely be happy and confident to see it continue and thrive in the private sector.Both our state owned TV companies are left leaning and there are no centrist or right leaning government broadcasters. Let them both go and do their thing as a subscription service and fund themselves in the private sector if they are so good.It is interesting, same as the BBC that the people coming out in support of CH 4 are mainly from the left of politics, which shows where the politics of these two companies stand.

Tim Wood ● 1398d

Probably it will be sold without due diligence to a government friendly type. Have heard that GB News backer John Malone, who is the largest landowner in the US, is an early hat in the ring to have a look.

Ben Rainbow ● 1398d