ITN demands more evidence to justify C4 sale

Channel 4 News producer ITN has called for further evidence as to why the broadcaster should be privatised as part of its submission to the DCMS consultation.

Having produced C4 News since its 1982 launch, ITN said it has opted to “remain neutral on potential ownership models” and called on the government to justify its position.

“We would need to be presented with further evidence as to why private ownership would provide a more sustainable model for C4 in the future than the current delicate media ecosystem,” said the response.

ITN, which also produces ITV News and Channel 5 News, said that its daily C4 bulletin has been defined by the broadcaster’s remit, which has enabled it to take more risks than its rivals.

“No other broadcaster has a dedicated one-hour of primetime news, a more ethnically diverse newsroom - on and off screen - or editorial focus on appealing to the many distinct minority groups in the UK,” it said. “Our duration, fixed time slot and appetite to explore topics in-depth makes us a unique feature in the broadcasting landscape.”

The response highlighted C4 News’ coverage of the Windrush scandal and major investigations into companies including Cambridge Analytica.

It noted the speculation from several commentators as to whether a commercial owner would have the same “appetite to take risks to cover stories others won’t”.

In the event of a sale, ITN called on the government to introduce a specified ring-fenced budget for C4 News in perpetuity, a guarantee that it would continue to receive an hour-long slot in the primetime schedule and continued editorial independence from its owner. It cited the precedent set by the Sky News / Comcast model

Other requests include enhancing C4’s news remit to guarantee its nations and regions coverage, foreign news and commitment to investigations and diversity.