Channel 4 to remain publicly owned
January 5, 2023
By Colin Mann
Following the emergence of correspondence that suggested such a move was likely, Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has decided not to privatise Channel 4 after reviewing the business case for its sale. The broadcaster will remain in public ownership but with greater commercial flexibility, increased investment in skills and jobs across the UK as well as new production arrangements to support its long-term sustainability and growth.
The government, following discussions with Channel 4 and the independent production sector, has confirmed an ambitious package of measures as an alternative to a sale. This includes reforms via the Media Bill which will eventually allow Channel 4 to make and own some of its content and a new statutory duty on its board members to protect the broadcaster’s long-term financial sustainability. Channel 4 has also committed to increasing roles outside London and providing more opportunities for people from across the UK to gain experience in the sector as part of this package.
According to the DCMS, in common with UK broadcasters, Channel 4 is currently facing unprecedented competition for viewers, programmes and talent in an era of wealthy, global streaming platforms. The Secretary of State has decided that pursuing a sale is not the best option to ease the challenges facing Channel 4 nor to support growth in the UK’s creative economy, especially the independent production sector. However, doing nothing also carries risks and the government believes change is necessary to ensure the corporation can thrive now and long into the future in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The package, finalised after listening to the views of Channel 4 and the wider broadcasting and independent production industries, will ensure the broadcaster remains focused on sustainability and has new opportunities to grow while serving audiences in the decades to come with high-quality, innovative and distinctive content.
“Channel 4 is a British success story and a linchpin of our booming creative industries,” said Donelan. “After reviewing the business case and engaging with the relevant sectors I have decided that Channel 4 should not be sold.”
“This announcement will bring huge opportunities across the UK with Channel 4’s commitment to double their skills investment to £10 million (€11.2m) and double the number of jobs outside of London. The package will also safeguard the future of our world leading independent production sector. We will work closely with them to add new protections such as increasing the amount of content C4C must commission from independent producers.
Relaxing the publisher-broadcaster restriction
Under current legislation, Channel 4 is more limited than other public service broadcasters in its ability to make and own its own content. It operates as a publisher-broadcaster, meaning that all its shows are commissioned or acquired from third parties – such as independent producers or other broadcasters – who typically retain the rights to those programmes.
This has been central to Channel 4’s role over the last 40 years in developing the UK’s independent production sector, which is now worth £3 billion. The government continues to consider this an essential element of our thriving broadcasting ecology and the wider economy. However, this model also makes Channel 4 more reliant on advertising revenue than many of its competitors which have been able to diversify their revenue by investing in content production.
The government wishes to give Channel 4 more commercial flexibility in this area, while also ensuring that Channel 4 continues to play its key role in incubating and supporting the independent production sector, which often includes new and highly-innovative companies. The government will therefore legislate through the Media Bill to relax the publisher-broadcaster restriction in Channel 4’s remit so it has a greater ability to produce and monetise its own content, accessing a wider range of potential strategic options that could put it on a more stable financial footing by growing its commercial income.
In determining how this relaxation should be designed and implemented, the government will work closely with the independent production sector to consider necessary steps to ensure that Channel 4’s important role in driving investment into the sector is safeguarded.
Any changes to Channel 4’s commissioning model would need to be introduced gradually, with appropriate checks and balances, and following consultation with the sector. For example, this will include increasing the level of Channel 4’s independent production quota, which is currently set at 25 percent of programmes; and potentially introducing specific protections for smaller independent producers.
Increased investment in skills and new roles
Channel 4 has agreed to enhance its support for the independent TV production sector and regional roles and skills. It will increase its annual investment in 4Skills – its paid training and placement programme for young people – from £5 million to £10 million by 2025. It will double its number of roles outside London from its original target of 300 to reach 600 roles across the UK in 2025. This will include roles in Channel 4’s national HQ in Leeds, as well as in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and potentially elsewhere.
Greater access to capital
To enable Channel 4 to make investments that could put it on a more sustainable footing, the DCMS will make it easier and simpler for Channel 4 to draw down on its £75 million credit facility. In the event it pursues more ambitious investment opportunities to promote the corporation’s long term sustainability, DCMS will support Channel 4 to access more private capital under its current borrowing limit of £200 million set in law – while taking steps to minimise the risk to public finances. DCMS will also consider future requests to raise the organisation’s borrowing limit if appropriate.
Long-term sustainability
A new statutory duty for the corporation’s board will be created through the Media Bill. The obligation on the corporation’s leadership to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Channel 4 will be enshrined in law, alongside their existing duties to ensure the broadcaster delivers valuable public service programming. Delivery of this duty will be evidenced via increased financial reporting by Channel 4, and as a report which Channel 4 will provide to the Secretary of State as part of its Annual Report.
An updated and publicly available Memorandum of Understanding between the government and Channel 4 will reflect the intention to legislate for this new statutory duty of sustainability.
Alongside the changes to Channel 4, the Media Bill will introduce a wide range of measures to modernise decades-old broadcasting regulations, including prominence reform to increase the growth potential of the UK’s public service broadcasters and foster innovations in the way TV is produced and consumed. Further details on the Media Bill will be announced in due course.
Channel 4 had earlier responded to the leaked correspondence.
Responding to the news, Dyfrig Davies, Chair of TAC (Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru), which represents the independent television production sector in Wales said: “TAC welcomes the fact that the UK Government has decided not to privatise Channel 4, as we have campaigned hard against this move.
We also welcome any increase in Channel 4’s commitments to the nations and regions and would support its spend on training being increased. It is important that the production sector in Wales sees the benefits of this expanded activity, alongside other areas of the UK.
However, there are concerns at the proposal that Channel 4’s publisher-broadcaster model relaxed, as this would reduce the opportunities for the independent production sector to make programmes for the broadcaster. This could create economic uncertainty for some companies in the sector, especially smaller companies.
We are pleased that the DCMS Secretary of State has committed to consulting with the industry and we look forward to playing a full part in that process. We need to ensure that Channel 4 continues to be a significant driver for the independent production sector in Wales.”