11–20 of 96 posts
This is vandalism. Channel 4 uses no government money and has a remit to show programming other channels cannot. The only reason this is on the table is because they critised the current government.
> Channel 4 uses no government money So, it's already private?
From a Hackernews point of view the most relevant part of this will be their video distribution platform 'All4' (previously '4 On Demand'). All4 is one of the buggiest platforms of all of the big channels. The others may be lacking in features but even Channel 5 has a pretty smooth user experience. All4 consistently crashes, shows ads but then no programme, doesn't show programmes in its search results, doesn't keep…
I guess one of the reasons behind this is the Ch4 news which I feel is excellent but is generally very critical of almost everyone.
This is vandalism. Channel 4 uses no government money and has a remit to show programming other channels cannot. The only reason this is on the table is because they critised the current government.
> Channel 4 uses no government money So, it's already private?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Channel 4 uses no government money So, it's already private?
No, it's owned by the government but doesn't take any government funding.
TIL Channel 4 was previously publicly owned.
Its odd in a democracy in 2022 that a government should own a media/news organisation. If the argument that this is profitable is true, then it should be capable of carrying on its endeavours privately with no issue whatsoever.
Yay! Cos all privatised channels that show high brow or educational programming have maintained their standards of quality and don't just show endless shows about ufos and nazis
This is vandalism. Channel 4 uses no government money and has a remit to show programming other channels cannot. The only reason this is on the table is because they critised the current government.
Honestly, considering what the goverment is doing, I think there needs to be real questions asked about who are they trying to serve. It doesn't really seem like it's the British public.
For those outside of the UK, it has been a disaster.
Its odd in a democracy in 2022 that a government should own a media/news organisation. If the argument that this is profitable is true, then it should be capable of carrying on its endeavours privately with no issue whatsoever.
Yay! Cos all privatised channels that show high brow or educational programming have maintained their standards of quality and don't just show endless shows about ufos and nazis
Perhaps the thing to take from this is that people want to watch bizarre stuff?
Its odd in a democracy in 2022 that a government should own a media/news organisation. If the argument that this is profitable is true, then it should be capable of carrying on its endeavours privately with no issue whatsoever.
When the government is "aligned" with the same media moguls who control the media (TV, newspapers) you have a huge problem for a democracy. Channel 4 was one of the few entities in the UK that stood out from that trend. In the current context it is madness to privatise one of the last remaining independent news sources in the UK.
Some would argue that the media landscape in the US isn't in the best shape either.
Its odd in a democracy in 2022 that a government should own a media/news organisation. If the argument that this is profitable is true, then it should be capable of carrying on its endeavours privately with no issue whatsoever.
But that's not the way that things like this work. C4 produces some programming that no other broadcaster in the UK does. The programmes may not be "everything for everyone", but there is definitely something for everyone, and just about everything they've ever made is still available to watch.
It will not remain that way if it is privately owned. There's too much pressure to serve shareholder interests and make everything profitable. Not everything can turn a profit, and "the market" doesn't solve all issues - the arts in particular being a case in point.
Dorries has always struck me as being pretty incompetent and not someone you would label as a deep thinker. She's obsessed with the destruction of the BBC, and C4 is clearly an easier target as most people don't even know that it is currently publically owned.