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Nadine Dorries

Channel 4 privatisation to be shelved

Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recommending the Government drops its plans to privatise commercial public service broadcaster Channel 4. Donelan says she has concluded that pursuing a sale at this point is not the right decision and there are better ways […]

January 4, 2023By Colin Mann

DCMS Secretary reviewing Channel 4 options

Michelle Donelan, the UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has said she is considering “other options for providing long-term sustainability” to PSB Channel 4 as the government reviews previously-announced plans to sell the broadcaster. Donelan’s predecessor Nadine Dorries set out plans to take it out of public ownership Responding to questioning at […]

December 7, 2022By Colin Mann

DCMS Secretary: ‘BBC a national asset’

UK culture secretary Michelle Donelan has told Sky News that the BBC is a “national asset” and confirmed that she is “working very closely” with fellow public service broadcaster Channel 4 as to whether it should be sold off or not. The comments came as Donelan inspected construction work at Shepperton Studios. Donelan’s predecessor Nadine […]

November 28, 2022By Colin Mann

C4 privatisation set to be shelved

The proposed privatisation of UK commercial PSB Channel 4 is set to be dropped, according to the FT, with newly-elected Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reassessing policy pledges made by previous administrations as he considers his legislative priorities. “We are looking at all the campaign pledges and we are looking at whether it is the right […]

November 4, 2022By Colin Mann

MPs criticise Dorries’ ‘fake’ claims stance

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK’s House of Commons has published a Special Report on the failure of the former Secretary of State Nadine Dorries MP to reconsider evidence she provided on her participation in the Channel 4 documentary Tower Block of Commons. Giving evidence to the Committee in May 2022 […]

October 20, 2022By Colin Mann

Dorries quits as Media Secretary

Nadine Dorries is to step down as UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following the election of Liz Truss as new leader of the governing Conservative Party. Although a supporter of Truss’s candidacy, it is understood she was given the opportunity to carry on in Cabinet but had chosen instead […]

September 6, 2022By Colin Mann

Harding appointed to Ofcom Board

Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, has appointed Will Harding to the Board of UK media and comms regulator as a non-executive director for a four-year term from October 3rd 2022 to October 2nd 2026. Harding has almost 30 years’ experience in the media industry. He started his career […]

August 18, 2022By Colin Mann

Sky News to host Conservative leadership debate

Sky News will host the first live television debate with those vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the country’s next Prime Minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation. On July 18th, the candidates will come together at the Sky News studios in West London for a live debate hosted by Kay Burley. […]

July 11, 2022

Longer TV ad breaks for UK?

Ofcom has confirmed that the frequency and length of commercial breaks on UK television channels are to be reassessed in light of evolving viewing habits and the rise of streaming services. Current rules state that, for ITV/STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, the total amount of advertising in any one day must not exceed an […]

July 1, 2022

Katz: “Profit-driven C4 could leave hole in Britain”

Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer Ian Katz, speaking at the Wales Screen Summit, declared out-of-London producers “the most important voices in the privatisation debate” as he reminded the industry that the Government White Paper makes no commitment to the nations and regions under a private owner. In an interview following his keynote speech, Katz said there remains a “long legislative […]

June 16, 2022