Channel 4 to be privatised
04-04-2022, 19:36
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#1
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Channel 4 to be privatised
According to today’s Telegraph online, a government announcement is expected shortly confirming that Channel 4 is to be put up for salenext year. Ostensibly, this is to give access to increased financial resources to fund more independent commissions.
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04-04-2022, 19:39
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#2
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Re: Channel 4to be privatised
Do people still watch Channel 4?
What's it like? . . in case I'm missing something of interest.
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04-04-2022, 19:44
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#3
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Re: Channel 4to be privatised
You’re not missing much, Carth. It badly needs more cash, and it shows.
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04-04-2022, 20:20
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#4
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Re: Channel 4to be privatised
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth
Do people still watch Channel 4?
What's it like? . . in case I'm missing something of interest.
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Unusually for me, I have watched a few interesting documentaries on Ch4 in recent weeks - Chernobyl & Falklands Recovery (can't call it a war nowadays) to name but 2
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04-04-2022, 22:56
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#5
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Re: Channel 4to be privatised
There’s the occasional good programme, I agree, but Channel 4 and More4 are nothing like they used to be.
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05-04-2022, 06:53
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#6
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Architect of Ideas
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY
According to today’s Telegraph online, a government announcement is expected shortly confirming that Channel 4 is to be put up for salenext year. Ostensibly, this is to give access to increased financial resources to fund more independent commissions.
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05-04-2022, 09:19
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#7
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
I shall miss the excellent Channel 4 news at 7pm because it's the best news programme on British TV at the moment.
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05-04-2022, 12:36
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#8
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laeva recumbens anguis
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
Love to see the Business Case ostensibly behind this proposed sell-off.
In order to arrive at a conclusion, normally people would have had to see evidence, weigh arguments, consider pro & cons and decide on best path forward - normally documented and scored against an agreed requirements list; I wonder if this will be available to MPs when they have a vote on this?
It’s stated that by Nadine Dorries that
Quote:
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.
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So we’re going to move from a company that costs the viewers and the taxpayers nothing, and that has in it’s remit to purchase locally produced programmes, to a company that will compete with Netflix which costs just under £16 per month, had £18 billion of debt, and makes most of its programmes in the USA?
It would be interesting to see the evidence behind the statement " government ownership is holding Channel 4 back", considering the Government has no input in how C4 is run (they appoint the Board, but don’t have day to day oversight - or is she implying that the Government appointees are holding C4 back?).
I wonder if that is based in fact as much as one of Dorries recent statements, which was that C4 was in receipt of public money*?
* spoiler alert - it isn’t…
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Last edited by Hugh; 05-04-2022 at 13:06.
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05-04-2022, 13:30
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#9
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
Love to see the Business Case ostensibly behind this proposed sell-off.
In order to arrive at a conclusion, normally people would have had to see evidence, weigh arguments, consider pro & cons and decide on best path forward - normally documented and scored against an agreed requirements list; I wonder if this will be available to MPs when they have a vote on this?
It’s stated that by Nadine Dorries that
So we’re going to move from a company that costs the viewers and the taxpayers nothing, and that has in it’s remit to purchase locally produced programmes, to a company that will compete with Netflix which costs just under £16 per month, had £18 billion of debt, and makes most of its programmes in the USA?
It would be interesting to see the evidence behind the statement "government ownership is holding Channel 4 back", considering the Government has no input in how C4 is run (they appoint the Board, but don’t have day to day oversight - or is she implying that the Government appointees are holding C4 back?).
I wonder if that is based in fact as much as one of Dorries recent statements, which was that C4 was in receipt of public money*?
*spoiler alert - it isn’t…
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I think you only have to look at Channel 4’s schedules to see the reason for the sell-off. They started off well in the beginning all those years ago, and they started off looking quite different, but sadly the schedules are now pretty mundane.
Without too many restrictions being imposed by government, this channel could be transformed with the increased cash that it would be able to raise by not being in public ownership. Only then, in the right ownership, could we be free of these mundane cookery, home makeover, house selling shows and the rest.
Before you jump to conclusions about the value of Channel 4, it might be worthwhile to look at the schedules for the week and work out exactly how many of the programmes on the channel you are actually watching. You might be surprised. Unpleasantly, I would wager.
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05-04-2022, 13:31
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#10
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
@Hugh: Like!
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05-04-2022, 14:41
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#11
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
Money often stagnates creativity. Some of the best ideas come from the inventiveness of limitations, particularly limited funds.
It's unlikely to get more from any buyer anyway. And they are more likely to play safe with commissions and it would end up even blander.
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05-04-2022, 15:10
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#12
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cf.mega pornstar
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
Love to see the Business Case ostensibly behind this proposed sell-off.
In order to arrive at a conclusion, normally people would have had to see evidence, weigh arguments, consider pro & cons and decide on best path forward - normally documented and scored against an agreed requirements list; I wonder if this will be available to MPs when they have a vote on this?
It’s stated that by Nadine Dorries that
So we’re going to move from a company that costs the viewers and the taxpayers nothing, and that has in it’s remit to purchase locally produced programmes, to a company that will compete with Netflix which costs just under £16 per month, had £18 billion of debt, and makes most of its programmes in the USA?
It would be interesting to see the evidence behind the statement "government ownership is holding Channel 4 back", considering the Government has no input in how C4 is run (they appoint the Board, but don’t have day to day oversight - or is she implying that the Government appointees are holding C4 back?).
I wonder if that is based in fact as much as one of Dorries recent statements, which was that C4 was in receipt of public money*?
*spoiler alert - it isn’t…
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Did you hear that car crash when she was called out for the "receipt of public money" line, omg how on earth are these people put in positions of responsibility, it's not like she hasn't got previous form for being completely out of her depth and ignorant of the very position she's attempting to defend, a woefully inept and incompetent individual that should have been put out to pasture long ago
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05-04-2022, 15:17
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#13
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
It would be a real shame if Channel 4 had to chase ratings and play things safe. Set up under the Thatcher administration, the remit to produce original content and boost home grown talent and production has been more than fulfilled and indeed exceeded according to their last annual report ( link)
Channel 4 is and should continue to be different. It's a channel that often challenges the viewer. For example, look at the Paralympics coverage and The Last Leg on disabled issues. It shouldn't need to challenge other channels and platforms.
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05-04-2022, 15:48
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#14
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY
Without too many restrictions being imposed by government, this channel could be transformed with the increased cash that it would be able to raise by not being in public ownership. Only then, in the right ownership, could we be free of these mundane cookery, home makeover, house selling shows and the rest.
Before you jump to conclusions about the value of Channel 4, it might be worthwhile to look at the schedules for the week and work out exactly how many of the programmes on the channel you are actually watching. You might be surprised. Unpleasantly, I would wager.
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All broadcasters will make 'mundane cookery, home makeover, house selling shows'. It's cheap to produce, is popular enough that it's worth making, and for ad funded broadcasters brings ad revenue in along with the viewers.
By making those shows, Channel 4 gets the profits to reinvest in the shows that profit-for-shareholders commercial broadcasters don't touch with barge pole.
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05-04-2022, 16:06
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#15
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Re: Channel 4 to be privatised
IMO some of the best Channel 4 programmes are the European drama series hidden away in the All4 app under the Walter Presents banner. They often have unique storylines unlike the ubiquitous American series found just about everywhere else. I would be very sorry to lose access to these shows.
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