Just before Parliament returned from recess this week, the Government confirmed that the planned sell-off of Channel 4 would no longer be going ahead. Instead of a sale, the government has agreed reforms to help Channel 4 grow and better compete in the age of streaming giants
Plans include allowing Channel 4 the flexibility to make some of its own content and a new legal duty to promote long-term sustainability whilst introducing protections to ensure they continue to be an incubator for the independent production sector As part of this package, Channel 4 will now commit to doubling its planned number of new roles outside London and doubling its financial investment in skills.
Steve Brine MP head more details about the future plans during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons, with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Michelle Donelan, speaking to MPs.
Mr Brine, who is also a member of the DCMS Select Committee, praised the decision not to privatise the broadcaster stating; "This is the right decision, to not proceed with the sale of Channel 4, the end I hope of picking fights."
The MP went on to ask; "So, could I just press the Secretary of State a little bit, on this important independent sector going forwards? She said about increasing that portion to 25%, could I just press her a little bit as to how we might get there and reach deeper into the creative industries, in places like Hampshire?"
The Secretary of State responded by praising the creative sector in Winchester and Chandler's Ford and adding; "At the moment, as he stated, Channel 4 only have to take 25% of their content from independent producers, we will be increasing that, we will also be looking at what additional measures we can introduce to particularly support the small and the most innovative independent producers and we'll be doing that, working and listening, to them their selves."
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