Channel 4 has taken the bold and unusual step of revealing its own "game-changing" plans for its immediate future which were flatly rejected by government ministers in favour of privatisation.
The government announced last month that Channel 4 will be privatised after almost 40 years of public ownership. The broadcaster, which only moved its headquarters to Leeds last year, had submitted detailed proposals to ministers in a last-ditch attempt to change their minds, but these were dismissed.
With privatisation looming, the broadcaster has today published its proposed alternative which it says would have led to an extra £1 billion investment in the industry "without jeopardising the important role which Channel 4 plays in supporting the growth of the independent production sector".
