MU Responds to Proposed Privatisation of Channel 4

The MU is very concerned to hear of the Government’s plans to privatise Channel 4. The union stands firmly with our fellow entertainment trade unions in their arguments that this plan may seriously impede the service that the channel delivers.

Channel 4 does not cost UK taxpayers a single penny since its income comes from advertising. It has directly invested £12bn into the production sector, creating over £992m GVA per year, and supporting over 10,600 jobs in the media supply chain.

Providing content for all

Channel 4 is consistently rated very highly for tackling issues that other broadcasters might not cover and for providing content for all. There is no evidence to suggest that privatisation would improve this offer: indeed experience would suggest that the opposite would be the case and that the most commercially viable content would be prioritised.

Public service broadcasting still has a vital role in the UK and the MU disagrees with the commercialisation of such an important function.