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Petition to save Channel 4 from Tory aggression

Hello there,I just signed the petition "Stop the privatisation of Channel 4 @NadineDorries" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.Our goal is to reach 150,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:https://chng.it/yfCLyPQnfvThanks!

Edward Lawrence ● 1632d70 Comments

Signed.

Alastair Banton ● 1632d

"Tory aggression" ? That is one way to alienate people who might otherwise support the petition.

Richard Greenhough ● 1632d

What else is it?

Edward Lawrence ● 1632d

https://youtu.be/Ve63pA573ZA

Steve Taylor ● 1632d

What is there to save? It started off as a radical alternative but quickly lost that plot.

Russell Pearson ● 1632d

I wouldn't describe Channel 4 as boring, but it's certainly less interesting, less edgy, these days. Channel 4 News remains refreshingly independent, and much less cowed by government than is the BBC. That's probably why it's to be privatised.

Robert Fish ● 1632d

That might jut be the most dismal biased ignorant post of the year. If you dislike a programme then change the channel. If Taskmaster does not make you laugh then plonk on videos of the two ronnies. But to decide the future of a TV channel on your personal appreciation seems like f c wittery

Alan Clark ● 1632d

What an absolutely embarrassing disgrace this video is.  It is clear that Dorries hasn’t a clue about the workings and funding of Channel 4, suggesting strongly that the real motivation for the sell-off is something quite different - blind ideology? A dislike of challenging programmes?  And why now?  Channel 4 competes with Netflix etc on its own terms.  It’s a National asset and part of our soft power.  It needs nurturing and encouraging, not chucking away to the highest bidder.  Please sign the petition.

Alastair Banton ● 1631d

Here’s first the video nasty and then the petition.  Please signhttps://youtu.be/Ve63pA573ZAhttps://chng.it/yfCLyPQnfv

Alastair Banton ● 1631d

The only qualification Dopey Dorries has for her cabinet post is the fact she's so far up Johnson's backside you can hardly see the soles of her feet. Leave Channel 4 alone - if it ain't broke - don't fix it seems to be good advice.

Vanessa Smith ● 1631d

It is no surprise that the government wants to sell off Channel 4 because the C4 news challenges the government consistently. Channel 4 receives no public money; it does  not even make programmes, it commissions them. It would be reasonable to think that Dorries would have been embarrassed to have sat in front of the select committee without this basic knowledge at her fingertips. But nothing embarrasses her.One recalls she did not understand what the Customs Union was , went ok I’m a Celebrity when  she was meant to be sitting in parliament And called  Chiswick’s James O Brian  ‘ a privileged public school f***wit’forgetting that her own children went to the same school as he had done

Stewart Jones ● 1631d

O’Brien..

Stewart Jones ● 1631d

Definitely supporting this — we love Channel 4 and the news at 7 is a regular gathering point in our home.   We all miss Jon Snow :) I think it is easy to forget through COVID what a right wing populist government this is and how undermining public service broadcasting is always a go to policy.  Hungary would be a good example. The BBC and C4 are so precious. I hope this can be stopped.

Julie Canterbury ● 1631d

Good grief. O’Brien went to public school?  And he has an accent like that? I agree that he is. F&&£W&t though.  Can’t stand to listen to him.

Steve Taylor ● 1631d

Reply to Russel Pearson and his criticism that C4 has lost the plot:During the station's formative years, funding came from the ITV companies. That subsidy enabled it to be a radical alternative, as you correctly describe it. The change in funding and the consequent move downmarket came about because of the Tories' Broadcasting Act 1990 when C4 was made to fund itself.So, it's galling to hear Tories - like the execrable Daniel Hannan, for example - criticise the C4 schedule when they are directly responsible for it.  The direct answer to your "what's left to save" question is mainly Channel 4 News, of course, which Johnson and his bunch of cronies absolutely loathe.

Edward Lawrence ● 1631d

Dorries wants Channel 4 to compete with Netflix (one of her alleged reasons for privatisation)Former Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell responded: “Netflix is a complete red herring. How many journalists and how many camera crews has Netflix sent to Ukraine?”Well said!

Edward Lawrence ● 1631d

It’s sadly what happens when you put inadequate people in charge of important things.

Stewart Jones ● 1631d

Film4 has 35 Oscar wins in it's 37 year history 'Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking,both new and established.Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award®-winners such as Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Asif Kapadia’s box office record breaking documentary Amy, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Chris Morris’s Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin and Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years.Also up for sale

Andrew McClure ● 1631d

"Dorries wants Channel 4 to compete with Netflix (one of her alleged reasons for privatisation)"So she is also unaware that Netflix is run on massive debt and is unlikely to last!  A bit like the Mirror Group was run on debt!

Steve Taylor ● 1631d

A bit like the country.

Stewart Jones ● 1631d

Thank you. This is an important investor in UK arts. Unlike that destroyer of UK creativity - AKA the tory government.

Alan Clark ● 1631d

Just trying to remove any criticism of Govt...  It's dangerous.

Philippa Bond ● 1631d

It started off so well, then rapidly became yet another boring channel with the news element parroting the sort of entrenched views we see so often from local blowhards (Fish and Clark come to mind).“The public service remit for Channel 4 is the provision of a broad range of high quality and diverse programming which, in particular:demonstrates innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of programmes;appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society;makes a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public service channels to include programmes of an educational nature and other programmes of educative value; andexhibits a distinctive character.”But it doesn’t. Sell it off I say and create something that does the above.

Russell Pearson ● 1631d

Gratuitous insults don't make your case any more persuasive. They're a sign you feel you may be losing the debate. The other views expressed here suggest you're in a minority of one.

Robert Fish ● 1631d

Second try:Reply to Russel Pearson - the man with the entrenched and unpopular views - and his criticism that C4 has lost the plot:During the station's formative years, funding came from the ITV companies.That subsidy enabled it to be a radical alternative, as you correctly describe it.The change in funding and the consequent move downmarket came about because of the Tories' Broadcasting Act 1990 when C4 was made to fund itself.So, it's galling to hear Tories - like the execrable Daniel Hannan, for example - criticise the C4 schedule when they are directly responsible for it. The direct answer to your "what's left to save" question is mainly Channel 4 News, of course, which Johnson and his bunch of cronies absolutely loathe.

Edward Lawrence ● 1631d

A confident government that has faith in democracy will take pride in there being media that are critical of the government.  Attempts to sell off Channel 4, like the attacks on the BBC, as part of the ludicrous ‘war on woke’ reveals a fearful, defensive government.  And of course that’s the kind of behaviour we all attack Putin for.

Alastair Banton ● 1630d

Let's sum up that Pearson post:"I don't like its programming, and I don't like being criticized, an so I say sell it off."Excellent line of logic. Not.

Alan Clark ● 1630d

"Sell it off I say and create something that does the above."Might it not be easier to look at why C4 is not matching its original remit and find a way to return it to that remit ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1630d

"It’s sadly what happens when you put inadequate people in charge of important things."So you don't think the C4 management are up to the job ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1630d

Govt owned ch4 has in its remit a responsibility to broadcast the news and in turn, to show and discuss political opinions in a forthright and impartial manner.This clearly is not the case; Jon Snow and its presenters overwhelmingly portray a blatant left wing, anti brexit, wokeish stance in all political discussions and forums.I believe this Ch4 deviation from its original news agenda has created a Govt backlash, and allowed Nadine Dorries to propose its sale and therefore compete with the streaming services for popularity.

Denis I. Fox ● 1630d

"Jon Snow and its presenters overwhelmingly portray a blatant left wing, anti brexit, wokeish stance in all political discussions and forums."Jon Snow was becoming increasingly dithery over the last few years. He should have retired at least five years ago. Matt Frei and Krishnan Guru-Murthy are so openly arrogant that it is little surprise that they never get any government minister to appear. Same old, same old 'nobody from government was available'!! Matt Frei is an embarrassment to watch. He continually interrupts interviewees or demonstrates impatience by continually trying to rush them with 'okay, okay, okay'.Cathy Newman is about the best but she certainly asks dumb questions sometimes.....'how did it feel when you lost your husband and all your kids'? 'What would you like to say to Putin now that he has destroyed your life?' Over the last few years CH4 News has only been able to interview extremely low key politicians or business people desperate to get their faces on TV.

Steve Taylor ● 1630d

I think a lot of politicians just aren't good enough in their own right.  Just look at the embarrassing interviews of those rolled out to justify one minister or another's poor behaviour.  It isn't just Channel 4 is it?

Philippa Bond ● 1630d

This is the true reason the tories want to sell off C4. Its news is not tory government serving. Indeed, apart from the independent and the guardian the media is mostly right of centre. And those on the right, when faced with an alternative perspective, decry it as rubbish. The latest being calls of "woke" - see Mr Fox's alignment to the anti-woke rubbish. Tell me, what is woke?Now, privatising news programmes is fraught with issues. Look at the US where the right-wing now view CNN as too left wing. Which is incredible as when CNN started it was seen as pro-right and anti-left. Now it has the cheek to suggest QAnon is rubbish and Donald has acted against the constitution. So moving media into private ownership is not the same as guaranteeing a sheep like following of the right wing messaging. Or is that too woke for you? (What the eff does woke mean?)

Alan Clark ● 1630d

"..apart from the independent and the guardian the media is mostly right of centre.."Perhaps you should look at the Daily Mirror sometime - or is a redtop beneath your notice ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1629d

So  the terribly left wing C4 news in cahoots with The Guardian, The Mirror, the BBC have failed to defeat The Tories for the last 12 years. But the Tories are still scared to death of criticism.

Stewart Jones ● 1629d

The Tories just think CH4 News is a joke. That’s why senior ministers rarely appear on it.  It’s pointless!

Steve Taylor ● 1628d

Except it is not a joke. It is more serious and more in depth than any other channel news. C5 is a joke. And neither BBC or ITV muster the same analysis and in depth reporting (excepting Newsnight and other dedicated programmes).And as an excuse for not appearing on C4 news, that one is quite poor. C4 news is produced in Grays Inn Road - same building as ITV news. So if the Tory MP was in the building then why not also do a C4 news interview? The reason - they boycott it as it actually challenges them.

Alan Clark ● 1628d

Since when have any MPS been interviewed on ITV news like ch4 They dont do that kind of news.

Julian Pavey ● 1628d

“ So if the Tory MP was in the building then why not also do a C4 news interview?”Because if they are interviewed by Matt Frei or Krishnan they know they will be treated extremely discourteously and interrupted and rushed. If Ch4 News had decent interviewers I am sure many more MPs would be happy to be interviewed.

Steve Taylor ● 1628d

Tory ministers were told to boycott C4 News and Newsnight by Dominic Cummings, when he was in power (!) because he didn't trust them not to crumble when they were challenged.Sadly, although he is now in exile, things haven't changed.They're cowards and they don't believe in democracy (reverting to FPTP for mayoral elections, for example) - and they certainly don't like it up 'em.

Edward Lawrence ● 1628d

All MPs, but of late particularly tory MPs, get interrupted during their response to questions because they do not answer the question. They answer something not asked because that is the point they want to make - and they often simply want to avoid tough questions. For me, interruptions in these instances as perfectly reasonable. If I was asking a tory what they are going to do about energy cost hikes and in response that tory told me that their government had a great record of moving to green energy (not the question at all) then I'd stop him/her. Wait, that is not the topic, answer the question matey. They get combative interviewers because they try to slime their way out of answering questions on issues they find difficult.

Alan Clark ● 1627d

I partly agree but the Ch4 news presenters do it so badly!!  They just aren’t  the Paxman’s or the John Humphreys of the world.  I find Frei particularly embarrassing, especially when he is interviewing overseas politicians. I squirm when I see the contempt they hold him in.  They try to make intellectual points and it just goes over his head!

Steve Taylor ● 1627d

But how is the answer selling offChannel 4?

Stewart Jones ● 1627d

Because a sensible  would get rid of the useless Ch4 news people so that ratings go up!  I am sure viewings have decreased dramatically over the years as they kept Jon Snow on way past his sell by date. He became an embarrassment. Painful to watch the spluttering and stuttering and regular f£&k”@s.

Steve Taylor ● 1627d

Somehow I had the impression that C4 showed a few more programmes than their 7pm news. Yet that's all you are moaning about. Hardly a reason to sell off to make some media company a bag of money by dropping content to the lowest populist level. Coz they would be chasing viewing figures.

Alan Clark ● 1627d

Plainly, Steve Taylor, you have as much understanding about C4's remit as Nadine Dorries.And, by the way, "viewings" is what estate agents do.Get yer coat!

Edward Lawrence ● 1627d

Yes, Alan. Ch4 does indeed have more to offer than their pathetic 7pm news program.  I was merely responding / reacting to Robert Fish’s post  ( 05/04/22 22:47:00 ) referring to privatisation due to the news segment 

Steve Taylor ● 1627d

Surely it comes down to how its done. If it is completely sold off to a single buyer then it could be a good thing for the consumer depending on who buys it and who wants what against the competitors.Perhaps it could be good news for sports fans depending who is in line. Is this correct,average viewing figures for ch4 news is 750 people. But in looking i note it has the second highest following behind sky news on social media which might point to its average viewing age and point to the likes of why ch4 news being very low and google box being the highest at around 4m viewers.

Julian Pavey ● 1627d

google box 😁Gogglebox

Julian Pavey ● 1627d

“ And, by the way, "viewings" is what estate agents do.”Mmmm. Best you get yer coat old fella because the news viewings stats are all available on google.  Not sure if estate agents’ viewings are freely available but TV viewings certainly are! Ratings are also there for you if you are interested.  It seems that Gogglebox is still very popular though. High viewing numbers reported.

Steve Taylor ● 1627d

Julian PaveyWhen you said "average viewing figures for ch4 news is 750 people" that seems rather on the low side. Don't tell Nadine she might use that to try to bolster her case for privatisation!But, of course you meant to say 750,000, which is highly respectable.

Edward Lawrence ● 1626d

You are correct on looking,it has 000 above in column which is why i questioned what i was looking at. Most likely on reflection known it was wrong. Well it might have atleast given Krishnan Guru-Murthy a laugh if looking at the post.

Julian Pavey ● 1626d

750,000 is hardly respectable. It’s a joke.  Little wonder it needs to be sold.

Steve Taylor ● 1626d

It's not light entertainment, you silly man.In your Tory dream world - and that of the awful Nadine - TV should be 24 hours of Ant and Dec and the like so that they can carry on having parties during lockdown and not paying their taxes, unlike the rest of us, without anyone knowing or complaining.  But I really do wonder - what's in it for you?

Edward Lawrence ● 1626d

Purely political dumbing down of our media here in the UK.  Nadine Dorries fidn't even know how it was funded which says a lot.  Never let a good crisis go to waste.

Philippa Bond ● 1626d

You are so right Mr Lawrence .I think that we are very well served by Matt Frei Krishnan Guru Murthy and Lindsay Hilsum on Channel 4 and Clive Myrie Jeremy Bowen and Orla Guerin on the BBC in their war correspondent roles in Ukraine.It's noticeable that you don't currently  hear anything from the anti BBC brigade In fact Dorries was nearly in tears praising is role of the BBC journalism regarding Ukraine. Plenty of other channels to watch light entertainment. .

David Burke ● 1626d

Nadine Dorries is totally out of her depth, as are most Tory ministers. Boris is determined to surround himself with morons so that he can come across as more intelligent.  Who else would have appointed such a clown as health secretary as Javid?

Steve Taylor ● 1626d

Tried to give Ch4 News the benefit of the doubt tonight and yet again they couldn’t entice any Tory.  Of course David Lammy jumped at the chance to appear. Unfortunately Matt Frei seems to have got worse. OMG but he asks such stupid questions!!

Steve Taylor ● 1625d

Steve Taylor:The government is in complete disarray.The PM and the Chancellor are now convicted criminals.The Tories are running scared and won't answer questions.And you blame the programme!The ultimate case of victim blaming.

Edward Lawrence ● 1624d

Don’t be so thick. They received a fine. They are absolute liars and cheats but they are certainly not convicted criminals. You are like Matt Frei. You spout nonsense and catastrophise and then, in Frei’s case, he asked exceedingly dumb questions.

Steve Taylor ● 1624d

So you don't like the presenters on C4 news. So what? I never liked Laura Kunesberg on BBC news. Thought she was absolutely dreadful and hopeless at her job. But not for once did I think this created a justification for changing the way the BBC is funded. So unless you've a more compelling reason to defend binning C4 into the private sector then I think we can safely say that your (lack of a) point has been adequately shared.

Alan Clark ● 1624d

"I never liked Laura Kunesberg on BBC news."Shock horror - something that I agree with AC on ! Channel 4 News is, I understand, provided by ITN. Presumably they have a contract in place that comes up for renewal at some point, when C4 could look at alternative providers, or at least require ITN to change its presenters and possible bias. Using the current news team as a reason to ditch the present C4 funding arrangements makes little sense.

Richard Greenhough ● 1624d

My friend called her Doomsberg, never knew who she was talking aboutfor awhile.

Janice Evans ● 1624d

LK is leaving her current role.

Stewart Jones ● 1624d

She is going to take over the Andrew Marr's Sunday TV programme

Philippa Bond ● 1624d

https://c20society.org.uk/news/listing-bid-for-channel-4-hq-amid-privatisation-controversy

Philippa Bond ● 1624d

"She is going to take over the Andrew Marr's Sunday TV programme"Which is a shame - I thought Sophie Raworth did an excellent job as guest presenter. I find Kuenssberg a total turn-off.

Richard Greenhough ● 1624d

It struck me again tonight just how inarticulate some of the news reporters are. Tonight Simeon Brown and Paul MacNamara were particularly bad. They slur their words and get pronunciation all wrong. Ch 4 certainly sets very low standards for its broadcasters.

Steve Taylor ● 1624d

For someone who professes to hate it, Steve Taylor, you seem to be one of C4 News's most loyal and steadfast viewers!  PS: Judging by your extremely lowbrow comments in this thread I am extremely sceptical as to your competence or expertise in matters of pronunciation.

Edward Lawrence ● 1623d

Congratulations to Ch4 news. They finally succeeded in getting a Tory junior minister. Although I doubt he will appear again because he was interrupted quite a lot. Not so much as Frei or Krishna would have done, but interrupted all the same. Such a pity they can’t get someone of Laura Kuenssnerg’s calibre.

Steve Taylor ● 1623d