So I do understand where all you "Let's not privatize Channel 4" folks are coming from. I also would not trust this Tory government not to **** up any simple task.
But are Channel 4 a great media company because they still, in 2022, have a remit of public service obligations - or is it because they're just a really well run and managed corporation?
As you can probably tell from my postings, I lean towards the later. I think a bunch of the great things that Channel 4 have done have nothing to do with the public remit, and everything to do with the quality decision making of their management team over the years.
Yes, the public remit almost certainly helped shape the channel in its early years - but now it has an established brand (its film brand is established worldwide) and its own niche in the TV spectrum. So maybe it is a good time to let it go off and establish itself as an independent entity - especially as the vast majority of the public service remit is less important today as it is now covered by the vast array of other entertainment options*.
(* I accept that the "Some of the programming must be produced outside of London" part of the remit is one that might still be just as important today. Frankly, I don't know enough about the UK TV industry to comment intelligently on that)
But are Channel 4 a great media company because they still, in 2022, have a remit of public service obligations - or is it because they're just a really well run and managed corporation?
As you can probably tell from my postings, I lean towards the later. I think a bunch of the great things that Channel 4 have done have nothing to do with the public remit, and everything to do with the quality decision making of their management team over the years.
Yes, the public remit almost certainly helped shape the channel in its early years - but now it has an established brand (its film brand is established worldwide) and its own niche in the TV spectrum. So maybe it is a good time to let it go off and establish itself as an independent entity - especially as the vast majority of the public service remit is less important today as it is now covered by the vast array of other entertainment options*.
(* I accept that the "Some of the programming must be produced outside of London" part of the remit is one that might still be just as important today. Frankly, I don't know enough about the UK TV industry to comment intelligently on that)