Snow said Channel 4 News was “one quality hit a day and unlike many of our competitors we have even increased our audience share over the past year”.
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The government is in talks to privatise Channel 4, according to a document photographed as it was carried by an unnamed official into No 10.
The documents, which are partially redacted, say “In your recent meeting with Matt Hancock you … extracting greater public value from the Channel 4 Corporation, focusing on privatisation options in particular whilst protecting …”
Channel 4 is now operated as an advertising-funded public service broadcaster. The options being drawn up by its chairman, Lord Burns, are understood to focus on continuing as a not-for-profit operation.
The official is believed to be a member of the Department of Culture, Media & Sport and the latest in a series of ministers and officials that have been caught by photographers outside of Downing Street. Public service broadcasting is a long-cherished part of British culture, but the volume, and how it’s produced could change dramatically over the next few years.
After months of denials by ministers, the document reveals that discussions are under way to explore a sell-off, which could raise more than £1 billion.
In August, Whittingdale told the Guardian Edinburgh worldwide television festival that a sale of Channel 4 was not now being discussed.
The taxpayer has a 100 per cent shareholding in Channel 4 but relatively few viewers are even aware that it is state-owned.
He said the value of Channel 4’s public stake had not been estimated by the Government, prompting ex-minister Christopher Chope to declare: “Well, in that case, isn’t it about time they did?” Do I say there are no circumstances in which I would ever consider it?
“Channel Four has an important remit and we are looking at a range of options as to how to continue to deliver this, including options put forward by Channel Four”.
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An image of the memo was captured by freelance photographer Steve Black and posted to Twitter.
