Channel 4 handed deadline to agree move out of capital
CHANNEL 4 bosses have been given until the New Year to agree to move out of London.
And the Government is threatening to use legislation to force the broadcaster to quit its London base, if managers refuse to compromise.
The tough line is a boost for the West Midlands’ campaign to convince Channel 4, known for shows such as Gogglebox, the Last Leg and Great British Bake Off, to come to Birmingham.
Ministers in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are currently considering the findings of a consultation into whether Channel 4 should move – but the broadcaster has been determined to keep its current headquarters in Westminster, central London.
A Whitehall source made it clear the Government wasn’t backing down, telling Westminster journalists: “It is just very well-paid TV peo- ple who seem to be horrified at the idea of living anywhere apart from London. If they don’t come round to it, we will look at changing the law.”
Former chief executive David Abraham claimed earlier this year that moving Channel 4 is “a highly destructive proposition”.
He has now been replaced at the helm of the broadcaster by former Ocado director Alex Mahon.
And the Whitehall source said the new Channel 4 management has until early 2018 to “get on board” with the move.
It follows a warning from Culture Secretary Karen Bradley in November that she was ready to introduce legislation forcing Channel 4 to move out of London.
She told MPs: “If we cannot reach an agreement, we would need to legislate.”
Moving Channel 4 to Birmingham would create more than 3,000 jobs in the West Midlands
And Mrs Bradley welcomed an attempt by South Stoke MP Jack Brereton (Con) to introduce legislation that would force Channel 4 to move.
The West Midlands has submitted proposals for Channel 4 to move its headquarters to a site near the planned HS2 Curzon Street station in Birmingham, or near the Birming- ham Interchange station planned for Solihull. Moving Channel 4 to the West Midlands would create 3,412 jobs in the region, a Government study has concluded, and it would grow the region’s economy by £235 million.
Any move would allow the broadcaster to retain some sort of office in London, where staff such as the advertising department may continue to be based.
Other cities which have expressed an interest in becoming the new home of Channel 4 include Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield, Stafford, Stoke and York.
Solihull MP Julian Knight (Con) said: “It is really encouraging that we are seeing this approach from the Government.
“The West Midlands has put in a very strong case for Channel 4.”