The Government’s decision to go ahead with the privatisation of Channel 4 has been branded “short-sighted, unnecessary and frankly bizarre” by a Newcastle MP.
Catherine McKinnell has joined the condemnation of the move, which was confirmed on Monday night. Channel 4, founded in 1982 to deliver programmes for under-served audiences, is publicly-owned but is funded by adverts and not taxpayer money.
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted on Monday that Government ownership was “holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon”. But it has sparked criticism from some of the channel’s stars and MPs, with concerns that public service broadcasting will suffer.
Read More: Why does the Government want to sell Channel 4 and privatise the broadcaster?
Ms McKinnell, the Labour MP for Newcastle North, said: “The Government’s decision is short-sighted, unnecessary and frankly bizarre and there is widespread concern about what this means for the future of British broadcasting. For nearly four decades, Channel 4 has been home to world-leading broadcasting, allowing creators to make their mark on British television production.
"It’s this independence that makes it so distinct, and what is being put at risk from the Government’s decision. With Channel 4 posting one of its best financial years on record, and increased viewing figures, it is in no way supported by solid evidence.
"Great British TV belongs here in the UK and offering Channel 4 to the highest bidder will be a huge loss for our rich and diverse cultural sector, and quality jobs in the North. This is nothing but a smokescreen to cover for the chaos in Downing Street and the lack of action to tackle the cost of living crisis."
In a letter to Ms Dorries on Tuesday, Newcastle councillor John-Paul Stephenson said that Channel 4 had been critical in representing sexual and ethinc minorities “in a meaningful way” through shows like It’s A Sin, Queer as Folk, and Brookside. The Labour councillor added that he was “not convinced that attempting to compete with Netflix, in reality, would be progressive in terms of both content and opportunities”.
The city council’s cabinet member for public health and culture wrote: “Recognise the best of what Britain has had to offer, and then build on it. Please be a culture secretary and not a cultural vandal.”
A statement by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it had made the decision to allow the channel to “thrive in the face of a rapidly-changing media landscape”.
Ms Dorries said on Monday: “Channel 4 rightly holds a cherished place in British life and I want that to remain the case. I have come to the conclusion that government ownership is holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon. “A change of ownership will give Channel 4 the tools and freedom to flourish and thrive as a public service broadcaster long into the future. I will set out the future plan for Channel 4 in a White Paper in due course.
“I will seek to reinvest the proceeds of the sale into levelling up the creative sector, putting money into independent production and creative skills in priority parts of the country - delivering a creative dividend for all.”
Channel 4 has said it is “disappointed” at the Government’s decision to proceed without “formally recognising the significant public interest concerns which have been raised”.
