Select Committee on Communications
A privatised future for Channel 4?
1st Report of Session 2016-17 - published 11 July 2016 - HL Paper 17
Contents
Summary of conclusions and recommendations
Chapter 2: Government position and ownership models
Box 1: Ownership options for C4C
Chapter 3: Economic sustainability
Figure 1: Percentage viewing share: all individuals
Box 2: Channel 4 Corporation results for 2015 at a glance
Figure 2: Total TV NAR at constant prices, 2010–2025f
Figure 3: Indicative TV advertising forecast to 2025
Market and technological developments
Figure 4: Total Channel 4 NAR and digital video revenues, 2010–2025f (£m)
Chapter 4: Impact of privatisation on content
Box 4: Current licence obligations for C4C
Is the current remit specific enough?
Would privatisation have an impact on the culture of C4C?
Figure 6: News programmes by audience share 2015
Older children and young adults
Would a commercial operator be incentivised to maintain the quality?
Impact of commercial realities
Could a privatised or part privatised C4C deliver its current
remit?
Could C4C be a profitable investment with the current remit?
What changes to the remit would be necessary for profitability?
Could a protected remit withstand future commercial pressures?
Box 5: Sanctions available to Ofcom in event of a breach of
broadcast licence
Could Ofcom at present regulate a privatised remit for
Channel 4?
Chapter 5: Impact of privatisation on creative landscape
Table 1: Ownership of media brands
Box 6: Competition and Markets Authority guidance
Who are the likely buyers if Channel 4 were to be privatised?
Chapter 6: Alternative ownership options
Status quo with support from regulatory reform
Appendix 1: List of Members and Declarations of Interest
Appendix 4: Communications Act 2003
Appendix 5: Digital Economy Act 2010
Appendix 7: Communications Act 2003
Evidence is published online at www.parliament.uk/hlcomms-future-of-Channel4 and available for inspection at the Parliamentary Archives (020 7219 3074).
Q in footnotes refers to a question in oral evidence