My Lords, the clause stand part debate tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, for whom I have immense respect, is, I am sure, well intentioned. As she said, it relates to the primary purpose of Channel 4, which is to be a commissioning public service broadcaster.
The Government’s desire to enable Channel 4 to produce programmes in-house as well as through its tried and tested commissioning route is undoubtedly novel and a new departure for the channel, but it is not without risk. As I recall, and as the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, reminded us, it was announced as part of the Government’s decision not to privatise the channel. We all cheered that, but we were left uncertain as to the real intent behind the announcement.
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I am sure that it is in part designed to broaden the economic opportunities for Channel 4 and to assist it in finding new revenue streams. I recall that, when the Minister was defending Channel 4’s privatisation, he argued that the channel needed to find a broader base for its revenue so that its future could be secured. On the one hand, it is welcome that this opportunity has been afforded it through the ability to make programmes in-house, but, on the other, I wonder if it can really achieve that objective without damaging the whole ecosystem of independent production.
I am going to be kind to the Government and presume that they must have done some financial modelling before determining this policy position. I am hoping that the Minister can share some of the financial thinking with your Lordships’ House, because this is one of those areas where some tried and tested thought needs to be applied to a new departure for this public service broadcaster. How much of that modelling can the Government share with us? How much potential do they see for Channel 4 to become an in-house producer of content, and what impact do they think that might have on the rest of the public service broadcasters?
Another point worth exploring today is just how much consultation was undertaken with the sector before the announcement. Did the Government talk to the BBC, ITV and Channel 5? I do not recall soundings being taken, and I rather suspect that Channel 4 was somewhat surprised at the time about this new offer.
I have another concern. If this change to the ecosystem of an important and well-reputed public service broadcaster is to succeed, how do the Government see it being rolled out? What sort of timescales will be involved? What percentage of production will be in-house and what percentage left to independent producers?
Channel 4 has been a wonderful innovation. I was around when it was rolled out; I was sceptical at the time, I confess, but I cheered as it grew, became more challenging and produced content that was genuinely
thought-provoking, as I think we all did. We on our side do not wish to fetter opportunity. We appreciate that this is a probing deletion of a clause, and I should make it clear that we would not support it, but we share some of what I described earlier as the well-meaning intentions behind it. I look forward to what the Minister has to say and to getting some more detail and flesh on the bones of what was a strange announcement in context that has given rise to some uncertainty in the sector.