Campaign launched to prevent sell-off of Channel 4
Northern firms and church leaders attack privatisation
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to prevent the privatisation of Channel 4 as a coalition of church leaders and public figures warn about the impact on creative opportunity and levelling up investment for the North.
The drive, supported by 27 production companies from Leedsbased independents True North to Duck Soup Films amid mounting opposition, is supported by the Archbishop of York.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s privatisation plans have long come under fire, including from inside his own party, with former Minister Jesse Norman describing the move as “unnecessary and provocative”.
But the Government insists it has already decided to sell the broadcaster and has been “crystal clear” that privatisation is necessary to give Channel 4 the best tools to innovate and grow.
Now the campaign, dubbed “Channel 4 Ain’t Broke”, brings together voices ranging from Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney to television writers and the Bishops of Ripon and Leeds.
The broadcaster, with a headquarters in Leeds, feeds major investment into Northern talent through independent production companies, representing Northern voices.
Bishop of Leeds the Rt Rev Nicholas Baines warned: “The plan to sell off Channel 4 is ideologically driven and therefore shortsighted and wrong.
“Channel 4 is the levelling-up broadcaster, it’s good for our region. It ain’t broke – so the Government shouldn’t be trying to fix it.”
Andrew Sheldon, founder and creative director of Leeds-based True North, stressed the broadcaster’s role in levelling up business, job and training opportunities.
“It’s opening the door to more working class and Northern voices telling our stories on national television,” he said.
“It’s given a generation of talent a door to knock on without having to travel to London.”
The campaign is co-ordinated by We Own It, which argues Channel 4 delivers £1bn to the nation’s economy, returning profits of £74m and supporting more than 10,000 jobs.
It highlights concerns that privatisation could hit the Government’s levelling up agenda, with a 35 per cent drop in regional jobs and dozens of businesses put at risk.
The Archbishop of York is among those giving his support, having long urged for the broadcaster’s work within the independent sector to be recognised as part of the process. The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell also previously served on a House of Lords Select Committee which warned the risks of such a move would “outweigh any potential benefits”.
Derry Girls star McSweeney said: “Channel 4 is a huge success story and Derry Girls wouldn’t have happened without it – it’s something to be proud of, not something to destroy.”