Decision on

A DECISION could be made by the end of the year on whether Coventry will be the new home of Channel 4.

We revealed in March that Coventry had launched a bid to attract Channel 4 to its Friargate development, being built next to the train station.

It came after Culture Secretary Karen Bradley ordered a consultation into whether Channel 4, which is publicly owned but commercially funded, should relocate all or some of its staff outside London.

Coventry City Council has approached the chief executive of the national television station, and the government’s culture secretary, to tout the £100million development as a potential new home.

And a West Midlands bid has been submitted with the backing of regional Mayor Andy Street, with Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley and Coventry all suggested as potential new homes for the broadcaster – with a relocation thought to be worth £5billion to the local economy. The Culture Secretary gave an update on the potential move told the Royal Television Society (RTS) convention in Cambridge this week, revealing any move could take a few years.

Given the broadcaster has successfully worked hard “to give a voice to as wide a range of people as possible,” she said: “It is this very sensibility that makes it well placed to relocate outside London along with its unique status as a public service broadcaster paid for by commercial activity but owned by the taxpayer.

“I want to be very clear regarding Channel 4 - it is a great broadcaster with many fantastic programmes. However, as a public asset I expect it to do even more to support the whole country.

“Decisions about its programming should not all be made in the bubble of Westminster. And people seeking to work in the media should not feel that they have to move to London.”

She has already had “constructive discussions” with Alex Mahon who takes over as Channel 4’s chief executive in November.

Ms Bradley said: “This is about Channel 4’s long-term future, and it may take some time to resolve. We are not looking at people moving tomorrow, but I do expect change by the end of this Parliament - and I hope to reach an agreement with Channel 4 on the direction forward by the end of the year.”