According to new reports, British PM Rishi Sonak is reassessing campaign and policy promises made by his predecessors and preparing to establish his own legislative agenda.
Sunak’s office has signaled his decision to scrap the sale of Channel 4 to industry heads and throughout Whitehall, the FT reported Friday morning. The sale of Channel 4 is expected to be dropped in the next media bill.
Boris Johnson was the first to draw up plans for selling Channel 4. The state is the owner of Channel 4, but the broadcaster’s public service is funded by advertising.
Rishi Sunak had supported the decision in his failed attempt to become Conservative party leader earlier in the summer. He claimed that the channel required a commercial owner to keep it competitive with streamers like Netflix. The FT reports however that Sunak was privately skeptical about the sale of Channel 4.
Michelle Donelan (current Culture secretary) was appointed last month under Liz Truss. “re-examining the business case”Channel 4 could be sold, and a final decision could come in the coming weeks.
MPs and industry professionals had strong objection to Channel 4’s planned sale. In September, more than 750 indies including major groups such as All3Media and Banijay signed an open letter organized by UK trade body Pact urging Truss and Sunak — who were both in the running for Number 10 — to “reconsider plans”Sell the broadcaster