Channel 4 has made public its alternative plan for the future of the broadcaster, which would have seen it move out of London entirely.
Instead, the Government wants to push ahead with privatisation and likely sale to a US company.
Channel 4’s alternative plans were for it to sell its London HQ and move the vast majority of its staff outside of the capital. 50% of all new commissioned programmes would come from the nations and regions.
It also planned to launch streaming service All4 globally, which it said would provide “a platform to export British IP to a young, global audience.”
Alongside these plans, there would be investment in skills training, helping 100,000 young people into the creative industries.
Alex Mahon, Channel 4’s Chief Executive, said:
The White Paper proposes some significant changes to the Channel 4 model and to its role as a key institution as part of the UK creative industries landscape. We also recognise that standing still in this ever-changing world is not an option. We developed a new vision, 4: The Next Episode, which represents our vision of what more Channel 4 can be and can do, while continuing to be owned by the British people.”
Link: summary of proposals (Channel 4 website)