So Farewell Then Channel 4

Seemingly determined to outdo even the most vindictive behaviour of Mrs T., the Tories, under the less than competent leadership of alleged Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, have delved into history, seen how the Thatcher Government emasculated the BBC, abolished the IBA and ensured Thames Television was suitably punished for doubting The Blessed Margaret, and decided to go one step further.

Thus it was that our new Culture Secretary (yes, it’s her again) Nadine Dorries declared that Channel 4 was to be sold off. This is, of course, nothing to do with the broadcaster being rather more ready to hold Bozo and his coterie of ineptitude to account than the Beeb, oh no. And nothing to do with Ms Dorries having previously been shown up for claiming dishonestly that Channel 4 was publicly subsidised, which it is not.

Predictably, the Bozo boosters have declared this action to be A Very Good Thing, with the perpetually thirsty Paul Staines and his rabble at the Guido Fawkes blog telling their readers “in the words of the government, Channel 4 is currently performing well, they believe state ownership is holding it back in comparison to its privatised competition, such as Netflix”. Thus the official line from the Provisional Wing of CCHQ.

Elsewhere, those who actually know what they are talking about have passed severely adverse comment on The Fragrant Nadine and her proposals. After she told “I have come to the conclusion that government ownership is holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon” there were few supportive voices.

Paul Bernal put her straight. “Apart from anything else, why on Earth would Channel 4 be competing with Netflix and Amazon? They occupy - very successfully - and very different niche. All4 is already a successful streaming service. Either you don’t know this *and should* or this is just dishonest”. And why sell it off? Rob Barnes had that one covered.

“Just a reminder - this all started because Channel 4 News ran an item about Boris Johnson’s dad that he didn’t like, and because they replaced him with a block of ice when he didn’t turn up at their election debate. Not because anyone else wants it”. And Adil Ray had a reminder of what Channel 4 has produced during its first 40 years.

“C4 has been the lifeblood of UK diversity. Skins, It’s A Sin, Ackley Bridge, Desmond’s, Undateables, Paralympics, This Is England, Britz, Eastern Eye, Black on Black, The Word, Brookside, Dispatches, Bandung File, Queer As Folk, My Beautiful Laundrette..we owe them everything”. Also Countdown, A Place In The Sun, Location Location Location etc.

Moreover, not all Tories were on board, as Steven Swinford pointed out. “C4 privatisation backlash from Tories in full swing: Tom Tugendhat says he's 'pretty doubtful’. Damian Green says it's 'very unconservative’. Jeremy Hunt says it risks public service broadcasting. Ruth Davidson says it's the 'opposite of levelling up’”.

And after Jonathan Lis asserted “This isn’t about innovation or the arts or creative potential. A government of thin-skinned vandals is taking revenge on a critic by destroying it”, we didn’t have to wait long for the proof. Hello Arron Banks. “Ch4 news is an extension of the guardian newsroom … It needs a bullet in the back of the head pronto!” That’s the mindset that is driving the sale. Philistine and vindictive. So no surprise there, then.

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