Creative union Bectu has strongly criticised government plans to privatise UK broadcaster Channel 4, saying that the move would be a “major blow” to both the UK’s creative sector, as well as to freelance jobs that depend on the channel.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries confirmed earlier this week that the government would push on with long-discussed plans to sell off Channel 4, which is publicly owned, but funded through its own advertising revenue.
The move has prompted widespread condemnation, with concerns over the broadcaster’s impartiality, its role in the UK production industry and the many jobs within its supply chain were it to be privatised.
In a blog post, Bectu head Philippa Childs has also criticised the move, calling the broadcaster “a major success story” that “costs the UK tax payer precisely nothing”. Childs also called the proposed sale “nothing short of cultural vandalism” and said that it would severely impact UK freelance jobs.
Childs wrote: “This short sighted and destructive move deals a major blow to the UK’s creative sector, the creative economy and jobs of UK freelancers. We will not let it pass unchallenged.”
“With the creative industries amongst the hardest hit by the pandemic, and continuing to face a chronic skills shortage, there is no worse time to introduce such uncertainty, particularly for independent producers.”
“We know the future of Channel 4 is important to the public and our members, both those directly employed by the broadcaster and the many freelancers who also rely on it for employment.”
Childs added: “Make no mistake – selling off such a profitable network that gives so much to the UK’s broadcasting and independent production sector will have major consequences for the UK broadcasting landscape.”
