New ‘Britishness’ requirements for public service broadcasters set out by Govt September 16, 2021 Plans to protect “distinctively British” shows and broadcasters have been set out by the Media Minister today at the Royal Television Society Convention. Media Minister John Whittingdale announced the new rules for public service broadcasters (PSBs) to make “iconic, not generic” British shows in a bid to help them compete with US streaming giants. The [...]
Dowden defends Channel 4 privatisation push as ‘needed’ to fend off streaming giants September 15, 2021 UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden has restated his view that changing Channel 4’s ownership is the best path for the channel, in the latest sign that the government intends to push forward with plans to privatise the state-owned broadcaster. Speaking publicly for the first time since the government launched a consultation on the future of [...]
JP Morgan takes charge of Channel 4’s road to privatisation September 15, 2021 The government has appointed banking giant JP Morgan to provide advice on Channel 4’s future following a consultation into the possible privatisation of the public broadcaster. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is understood to have approved the American investment bank to provide corporate finance advice on the broadcaster’s remit, ownership and obligations. The appointment has not [...]
Channel 4 agrees late deal with Amazon Prime to air Emma Raducanu’s US Open final September 11, 2021 Emma Raducanu’s US Open final against Leylah Fernandez will be aired live for free on Channel 4 after the broadcaster agreed a last-minute deal with Amazon Prime. The 18-year-old is the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final since Virginia Wade, who played at Wimbledon, in 1977. Amazon Prime Video had exclusive [...]
Privatising Channel 4 ‘may destroy what is special’ about broadcaster, warns TV boss August 26, 2021 Privatising Channel 4 risks destroying what is “special” about the broadcaster, its chief content officer has said. The Government is currently consulting on plans to privatise the channel. However Ian Katz, chief content officer at Channel 4, questioned the logic behind a potential sale. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, he said: “Pretty much to [...]
Channel 4 launches real-time digital ad bidding amid privatisation threat August 23, 2021 Channel 4 is rolling out technology that will allow advertisers to bid for ad space on its streaming service in real time as the state-owned broadcaster battles the threat of privatisation. The Gogglebox broadcaster has launched a new platform that enables ad space to be auctioned in milliseconds across All 4’s 14,500 hours of programming. [...]
Channel 4 chair hits back at ‘very harmful’ privatisation plans July 20, 2021 Channel 4’s chairman has hit back at the government’s plans to privatise the broadcaster, saying such a step would be “very harmful” to viewers and risk thousands of jobs. Last month it emerged that the government is preparing a consultation into the privatisation of the broadcaster. But in a letter to culture secretary Oliver Dowden, [...]
Channel 4 privatisation risks pulling the plug on UK production June 23, 2021 When Thatcher’s government set up Channel 4 back in 1982 as the boisterous youth-focused challenger to the BBC behemoth, it was a radical shake-up of Britain’s fusty broadcasting landscape. Now, almost four decades later, that same landscape is unrecognisable, its skyline dominated by the giants of the internet and streaming age. It’s in this context [...]
UK targets Netflix and Channel 4 with new streaming rules June 23, 2021 The government is plotting an overhaul of the UK broadcasting landscape in a move that could place tightened regulations on US streaming giants such as Netflix. Ministers will carry out a review of rules for video on-demand platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus in an effort to protect viewers and boost public [...]
David Attenborough calls for govt to stop ‘short-sighted’ attack on broadcasting June 22, 2021 The British broadcaster has put his name to a campaign accusing the government of “short-sighted political and financial attacks” on the UK’s television networks. Sir David Attenborough is the latest media star to support the British Broadcasting Challenge campaign, as the government mulls the privatisation of Channel 4. The 95-year-old presenter today signed the campaign’s [...]