Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead • Hacker News Board

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#31

Post by doublerabbit » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:17 AM UTC

That's another no-brainer to why I shouldn't pay for a TV License. I'm not going to support an organisation which cuts off my Scottish PM, refuses air importance. Produces poor quality entertainment and now wanting to sell a decent broadcaster from the UK.

No seriously, to the down-voters; in the UK you have to pay a TV license. I find the quality of BBC programming really poor. C4 was decent, but if the government is going to sell to a media empire, I do not want to give further money to the government. And I am aware channel four does not receive money from the TV License but they are still owned by the British Government.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#32

Post by andrepd » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:18 AM UTC

gpmcadam wrote: post #6

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.

Well very much in the contrary! I think it's very odd that in a democracy we allow dozens of channels and hundreds of newspapers to be controlled by one, or a very small number, of media conglomerates answerable only to unelected, unaccountable elite billionaires. The stage is set for massive abuses of power and a media which only talks about what it is instructed to, in the manner it is instructed to.

The state (not the government!) might own the company, but it is run by an independent board which is (or is supposed to be) totally independent from the sitting government.

Anecdotally, in my country the public broadcaster is not only by far the highest quality channel but also the one that is most consistently being a nuisance to people in power.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#33

Post by gadders » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:19 AM UTC

stuaxo wrote: post #5

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.

We already have the BBC - why do we need a second state broadcaster?

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#34

Post by te_chris » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:20 AM UTC

doublerabbit wrote: post #31

That's another no-brainer to why I shouldn't pay for a TV License. I'm not going to support an organisation which cuts off my Scottish PM, refuses air importance. Produces poor quality entertainment and now wanting to sell a decent broadcaster from the UK. No seriously, to the down-voters; in the UK you have to pay a TV license. I find the quality of BBC programming really poor. C4 was decent, but if the government i…

They don’t receive license fee funding

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#35

Post by andrepd » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:20 AM UTC

LightG wrote: post #16

secretsatan wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

That sh!t is bizarre ... why does that happen?

They make more money that actual quality programming.

Why was there lead in gas, why was cigarette advertising so huge, etc etc.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#36

Post by pdpi » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:21 AM UTC

Zhyl wrote: post #2

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…

It’s hard to believe channel 4 needs to be privatised in order to get better at streaming. All you need to do is look at BBC iPlayer, which is miles better.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#37

Post by gadders » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:22 AM UTC

janekm wrote: post #19

gpmcadam wrote: post #6

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.

It is not even remotely odd, it is a vital defence of that same democracy. Private ownership of the media is a direct path to authoritarianism (Hungary: Orban, Italy: Berlusconi). 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 conte…

>>When the government is "aligned" with the same media moguls who control the media (TV, newspapers) you have a huge problem for a democracy.

So like in the USA then?

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#38

Post by SirHound » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:24 AM UTC

djbebs wrote: post #14

xnorswap wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's owned by the government but doesn't take any government funding.

Who owns the capital? If it's the government, then yes, it's state funded even if it doesn't require constant capital injections

State owned, not state funded. Pretty easy to understand distinction so I assume you're wilfully misrepresenting the situation.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#39

Post by d--b » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:26 AM UTC

> Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: "Channel 4 rightly holds a cherished place in British life and I want that to remain the case. I have come to the conclusion that government ownership is holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon. A change of ownership will give Channel 4 the tools and freedom to flourish and thrive as a public service broadcaster long into the future."

Errr, how is BBC4 going to be a public service broadcaster at all if it becomes private?

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#40

Post by andy_ppp » Tue, Apr 05, 2022, 9:27 AM UTC

gadders wrote: post #33

stuaxo wrote: post #5

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.

We already have the BBC - why do we need a second state broadcaster?

Well Channel 4 actually critique the government for one… secondarily they produce different content than the BBC which will also soon be privatised.