Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has written to the Prime Minister recommending the Government drops its plans to privatise Channel 4, according to reports. The decision to take the broadcaster out of public ownership was announced under the tenure of her predecessor, Nadine Dorries, who led the move during Boris Johnson's premiership.
In a letter to Rishi Sunak shared by Global's Lewis Goodall, Ms Donelan said she has "concluded that pursuing a sale at this point is not the right decision and there are better ways to secure C4C's (Channel 4 Corporation) sustainability and that of the independent production sector". She added that its role in supporting the independent production sector "would be very disrupted by a sale at a time when growth and economic stability are our priorities".
Channel 4 was created in 1982 by the Conservative government of Baroness Thatcher and is entirely funded by advertising, out of public ownership. Ms Donelan, who was appointed by Liz Truss and remained in the role after Mr Sunak took over as Prime Minister, had previously cast doubt on plans to privatise the broadcaster.
