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Channel4—Yourchancetohaveasay
The Government recently announced a new consultation on some aspects of the future of Channel 4.
They have ruled out the privatisation of Channel 4, but they are now seeking views on:
- Channel 4’s contribution to the Nations and Regions,
- where it should be located, and
- whether Channel 4 should be able to hold larger stakes in production companies.
Directors UK will be responding to this consultation. We are keen to hear the views of Directors UK members on these issues as we prepare our response. In particular, we would like your views on any of these specific questions that the Government has posed:
Question 1(i). Would Channel 4’s regional impact be enhanced if more of its people and activities were located outside London?
Question 1(ii). What location(s), if any, would make a substantial impact and be suitable for an increased regional presence for Channel 4 outside of London?
Question 1(iii). Is there a strong argument for specific parts of the business remaining in London?
Question 1(iv). Which specific parts of the business should remain in London, if any?
Question 2(i). Do you agree/disagree that increasing Channel 4’s nations commissioning quotas would be an appropriate and effective way to enhance Channel 4’s impact in the nations?
Question 2(ii). Do you agree/disagree that increasing Channel 4’s regions commissioning quotas (in relation to England) would be an appropriate and effective way to enhance Channel 4’s regional impact?
Question 2(iii). What level of increased quotas do you think should be considered (if appropriate)?
Question 2(iv). Do you think that Channel 4’s regions and/or nations commissioning quotas should change in any other way?
Question 3. Do you agree/disagree that Channel 4 taking shareholdings in production companies in excess of 25% would be an appropriate and effective way to enhance Channel 4’s sustainability and regional impact?
Question 4. Do you have any views on whether more could be done, including by the commercial PSBs, to strengthen regional creative clusters and provide for audiences outside London, thereby strengthening the regional impact of the public service broadcasting system as a whole?
Please send your responses to [email protected]. We will treat all responses in confidence and there will be no attribution of any views to a named individual in our response.