Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

Not surprising, however el gov holds the shares and if it still believes in Channel 4’s public service remit, which is distinct from the BBC and ITV, then it should not sell. None of these companies can acquire Channel 4 unless the government chooses to sell it - there are no shares listed anywhere.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

Yes, that's why there is interest

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...-4-2021-06-22/

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

British gas Mk 2 ?

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

As reported in the Telegraph:

‘An ongoing consultation has claimed that the broadcaster will struggle to survive on its own in the streaming wars and proposed changes to its remit to make it a more attractive commercial proposition. They include the ability to make its own programmes and own the rights associated with them, rather than rely entirely on independent producers as it currently does.‘

I think it is a good thing that C4 is going private. The programming on this channel and on More4 is pretty dire these days.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is the only programme we have been watching on C4 of late, and I think the last one we watched on More4 was ‘Homeland’.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

Another national asset sold off to be highest bidder with the viewer losing again in a race to the cultural bottom.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

How is the viewer the loser? If they could make their own programmes and be freed from the restrictions relating to having to rely only on independent producers, surely that should lead to better programming.

Have you totted up how many programmes on the Channel 4 bouquet of channels you actually watch nowadays?

Film4 is good, but that’s where it ends.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

There’s no reason why Channel 4 making programmes in-house would automatically lead to an increase in quality. What it does is give the channel access to a content library it owns the rights to, which it can license out at a profit, or repeat on its own channels without having to pay repeat fees. Channel 4’s problem is that its very specific public service remit limits its potential audience and therefore its ability to make money. Cost saving measures like in-house production are useful in that regard.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

Nothing wrong with independent producers except for not owning the content.

In-house production can lead to derivative programming, the various departments set in their own ways or feeling a pressure from those elsewhere in the company to conform, whether that pressure is actually there or not.

The strength of the British TV industry internationally is as much to do with its independent production companies as those made in-house for its big broadcasters.

The creation of Channel 4 back in the day was a significant part in the rise of UK independent production to what it is today.

Independent producers can end up making the same tedious, derivative rubbish too of course.

Film4 isn't the only thing still good, in my opinion. Walter Presents is fantastic (I usually only have time for those on More4 on Fridays, but I'd watch lots more if I had time) and so are their dramas and (to a lesser extent these days) their comedy on the mothership and E4.

It's the saturation of lifestyle, some of what is passed off as "factual" and the "reality" drivel that brings it down.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

I think the BBC’s 1986 charter was far more influential in fostering the development of the British tv production industry than the launch of channel 4, as was the general move to loosen regulation to permit more competition. Channel 4’s budget is and always has been small beer indeed, compared to the money the BBC has to spend on programming. From 1986 the BBC was obliged to spend an increasing percentage of that programming budget on external commissions.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

I agree, except to say that the government is looking again at its public service obligations. As the Reuters article makes clear:

'Britain's government on July 6 announced a consultation on the sale of Channel 4, and it was considering changes to the operating model of the broadcaster, including its ownership, remit and obligations.'

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

From last month.

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021...system-of-psm/

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

I don’t disagree. The government and Ofcom do not always see eye to eye, and this appears to be a case in point.

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

You sure?

From the same time…

https://advanced-television.com/2021...to-psb-report/

Re: Discovery, ITV and Sky are eyeing up bids for Channel 4
 

There will still be a public service remit in all probability. It is the nature of that remit they will be looking at.