Channel 4 Privatization Latest: Scottish Conservatives Urge Nadine Dorries To Keep ‘It’s A Sin’ Broadcaster In Public Hands

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: The pressure is ramping up on UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries to refuse to privatize Channel 4 after a group of Scottish politicians from her own party sent a letter urging her to keep it public, Deadline can reveal.The letter was sent by Sharon Dowey, a minister for Scottish Parliament, on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives late last year, in which she said the sale of Channel 4 would create a “significant risk that Scotland’s independent production sector, not to mention all the associated companies within that ecosystem, would be under threat.”Dowey, who is a Shadow Minister for Culture, pointed out that Channel 4 is “rare” in having Scottish-based commissioners and that its shows hand IP to the producer, thereby building their businesses.

If privatized, however, a private buyer would have no motivation to commission shows from different producers based around the country, nor have commissioners based beyond London, added Dowey.In 2020 alone, Channel 4 worked with 37 new indies in Scotland, and big budget dramas such as STV Studios’ Screw (pictured) were made in the nation.“Without dedicated commissioners in Scotland, there is little chance of Scotland’s independent production sector expanding or for them to find the funding to build their own libraries of intellectual property,” said the letter, which has been shared with Deadline and was addressed directly to Dorries, titled Channel 4 and the Scottish Independent Production Sector.“Scotland’s nascent screen sector has great potential and a bright future but without a commissioning force such as Channel 4 to nurture our independent production sector, there is a real risk that we will lose much of the progress that has been made to date.”Dorries will