Channel 4 chief: Tories tried to sway annual report to fit privatisation policy

theguardian.com:

The government tried to intervene to alter the wording of Channel 4’s annual report to say that it did not have a sustainable financial future, according to the broadcaster’s chief executive.

The government is seeking to privatise Channel 4, claiming it will struggle to survive in a media landscape increasingly dominated by big streaming companies such as Netflix, and has an overreliance on declining TV advertising to support its business model.

The controversial policy is opposed by Channel 4’s management and board of directors. They and the broadcaster’s independent auditors signed off on the annual report on 23 May but it is still yet to be made public.

Asked about the delay to the publication of the report, Alex Mahon, the Channel 4 chief executive, said that it had been held up by officials at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

“It is fair to say the DCMS made some comments that they would have preferred to see in the report, particularly about our future financial sustainability,” Mahon said, responding to questions from the DCMS select committee of MPs.

“Really, the questions were about whether our wording was in line with government policy. It is the first time to my knowledge in [Channel 4’s] 40 years that there have been queries about the annual report.”

The government is pushing ahead with plans to privatise Channel 4, which has been signed off by the former prime minister Boris Johnson, although these plans could now be dropped by his successor.

“Management and the board view is Channel 4 is in a strong and sustainable position, it is also [our] independent auditor’s view,” Mahon said. “There was some concern from the DCMS, [which] would have preferred to change some wording. [They] have now