The UK is backing away from a proposal to privatize state-owned broadcaster Channel Four Television Corp., according to two people familiar with the matter.
(Bloomberg) — The UK is backing away from a proposal to privatize state-owned broadcaster Channel Four Television Corp., according to two people familiar with the matter.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recommending against the sale, the people said, asking not to be identified because the correspondence is private. A final decision has not been made, the people added.
Donelan has been reviewing the UK’s ownership of Channel Four after a potential sale process was launched by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. The previous administration had been moving toward privatization of the ad-funded channel.
“The DCMS Secretary of State has been clear that we are looking again at the business case for the sale of Channel Four,” a spokesman for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said by email. “We will announce more on our plans in due course.”
Lucy Powell, culture spokeswoman for the opposition, said in a statement that the Labour Party opposed the sell off “and took a strong stand against it.”
Donelan’s letter was first reported on Twitter by a reporter for the News Agents podcast.
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