Nearly 300,000 people signed a petition to stop the privatization of Channel 4

The number of petitioners in support of Channel 4’s conservative plans to privatize the channel attracted nearly 300,000 signatures. This comes after several senior conservatives criticized the plans outlined by Culture Minister Nadine Dorries.

On Monday, the government confirmed that it would continue to privatize Channel 4, which has been publicly owned since its inception in 1982 and has been financed by advertising. Nadine Doris said that while Channel 4 was a “favorite place in British life”, she felt that public ownership made the broadcaster “compete with broadcast giants like Netflix and Amazon”.

According to reports, sales plans will be outlined in a white paper by the end of this month and will be included in the new media bill next spring. After the government released a statement, it became clear that the privatization plans did not fit well not only with the media but also with senior Tory officials.

Among those who signed the Change.org 4 petition is radio and TV presenter Dermot O’Leary, who shared a link on Twitter with his 2.6 million followers. The petition was signed by 294,888 people by 8:00 am on Thursday (April 7th).

The full text of the petition:

Channel 4 is responsible for some of the UK’s best TV programmes. Channel 4 news is one of the most reliable at a time when misinformation is rampant.

There are very few places where we can trust the integrity of news and content producers. There are very few places where we can trust our sincere intent to serve a diverse range of communities. The monoculture, which is almost certainly the result of such a move, seriously undermines the validity and creativity of British television programmes.

The privatization of Canale 4 seriously undermines the transmission that has been destined for generations to all societies and generations that make up this country.

The government has no right to implement a plan that is not in the public interest.

I hope we can all work together to protect the independence of this beloved, trusted and much needed channel.

Channel 4 is an invaluable part of the British media

Speaking to the Health Minister on Wednesday morning, Health Minister Sajid Javid told LBC Radio on Wednesday morning that the privatization of the network would release him.

He said, “I love Channel 4. I think it’s great, but I want Channel 4, which can compete with the fast-changing landscape. I think we would all agree that the media landscape has changed since the creation of Channel 4.”

“You have to think carefully about why it is better to sell, and the reason is that in order to compete properly, it must be able to raise its money and its capital, whether it is debt or equity, to do it in this way. It is able to compete appropriately. With the rapidly developing media landscape.

“It will launch Channel 4. By the way, it will remain a public broadcaster similar to ITV. It will have a public license. They will have responsibilities accordingly.”

“You know, ITV is also an excellent broadcaster in the UK, but it’s been privately owned for many years. It’s getting stronger. I think as a result it has been able to compete more effectively.

“By the way, my understanding is how much will be charged – I don’t know how much will be processed in the end – but how much will be charged, which will be very important, from the sale. Everything will go back to the creative industries, including independent production.”