May 11, 2022
Channel 4 head Alex Mahon: ‘It’s not for me to oppose privatisation’
The head of Channel 4 will not actively oppose government legislation to sell the state-owned UK broadcaster, leaving parliament to decide the future of a business she described as being in "Rude health" and a public asset. Unlike some rival broadcasters who "Stuck their head in sand like an ostrich", Mahon argued Channel 4 had successfully followed its younger audiences online, this year generating 19 per cent of revenues from streaming. The battle over the bill paving the way for Channel 4's sale is likely to be one of the most hard-fought in parliament over the next two years, with senior Conservative MPs and peers warning the privatisation will hurt Britain's creative economy and hobble the channel's public service remit. Even without Channel 4 taking an active position on the terms of its privatisation, Mahon's "Advice" may be a rallying point for the campaign to stop a private sale, promote hybrid options or strengthen the privatised channel's public service remit. Mahon sees Channel 4 as being well-placed to capitalise on rapid growth in ad-funded streaming, particularly as cost of living pressures limit the appeal of subscription-based services such as Netflix.
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