Gordon Brown: 'We must help Channel 4'

[Samishlol]

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that the government must help Channel 4.

Speaking ahead of yesterday's publication of the Digital Britain report, Brown praised the broadcaster for the quality of its television and theatrical output.

Brown told The Times: "We also need to help Channel 4 to secure its future.

"In its short history, the station has produced Oscar-winning films and some of the most popular and highest-quality programming. But it now requires long-term stability to develop as a truly global player."

The Digital Britain report revealed that Channel 4 will not be forced to merge with rival Five but will receive financial assistance from the government to cooperate with BBC Worldwide.

Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson said: "We welcome the government's explicit rejection of a partial privatisation of C4 through a forced commercial merger and the encouragement Digital Britain gives to our discussions about partnership with BBC Worldwide.

"The government shares our vision of Channel 4 as a key public service innovator in the emerging fully digital environment."Gotta agree Channel 4 does show some really good programmes. But I hope they don't merge Channel 4 and Five up together.

[Hecktix]

Go Gordon!!!

[-:Undertaker:-]

I think the time after this recession will be the time to privatise the BBC because it is paying its members unsustainable amounts of public funds and quite frankly it is destroying the other channels despite it being a state company. Perhaps what would be best would be to privatise the BBC and then have a public fund for all channels as long as it goes towards creating programs/media - that would then mean the BBC would not be the monolithic creature that it is. At the least, cut the BBC down.

I do hope Channel 4 is saved, I do love many of its programs, probably more than the BBC but the BBC has good programs aswell. The fact still remains though, that they should not of run up all these debts.

[eight]

channel 5 always have really old films like western :S

[Roboevil]

Channel 5 is utter balls. Channel4 is awesome!

[CJW93]

Channel 5 is **** I hate it. It is worse than the Hallmark Channel and Itv 3

[DJ-Ains.T]

Gordon Brown needs to stop watching TV, get off his ass, and start sorting global issues out.

[Nemo]

If there was no channel 4, i probaly wouldnt watch TV.

[Neversoft]

Channel 4 have been receiving money from the government for ages, why are they making it sound as if it's a newly introduced thing? Channel 4 is part public broadcaster afterall. They've been talking about things like this for a while now though, and Ofcom even suggested merging ITV, Channel 4 and Five to create a "broadcasting giant" that would rival the BBC. They're all crap in my opinion though. I don't care whatever they do as long as the BBC remains untouched.

[Samishlol]

BBC is pure ****.

[Xarea]

BBC is pure ****.

I can feel the constructiveness radiating from yourself.

[Samishlol]

It's true, The BBC have **** tv programmes!

[Neversoft]

The BBC produce some of the best programmes worldwide.

[dbgtz]

And (this sounds old-man like) they have the most neutral-opinionised news, therefore the best news.

Also dr who!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! And urmm... thats it lol.

[Sarah]

Channel 4 have been receiving money from the government for ages, why are they making it sound as if it's a newly introduced thing? Channel 4 is part public broadcaster afterall. They've been talking about things like this for a while now though, and Ofcom even suggested merging ITV, Channel 4 and Five to create a "broadcasting giant" that would rival the BBC. They're all crap in my opinion though. I don't care whatever they do as long as the BBC remains untouched.

There have also been talks to merge it with BBC worldwide which is not paid by the public. If there was no Channel 4 I would have nothing to watch apart from welsh tv 24/7 on S4C - which isn't could might i add. instead of getting some C4 programs on there.. (until digital happened of course..)

[Samishlol]

Welsh TV must suck then ?

[Jxhn]

Does anyone actually watch 5 for anything other than quizcall? Why isn't 5 goin bust instead?

[-:Undertaker:-]

The BBC are often accused of being politically biased towards the left and Labour, indeed in the 1980's the BBC often was biased against the Conservative government at that time and I have noticed how Labour get/got far more coverage in the General Election of 2005 compared to the Conservatives. I do think the BBC can be biased at times. I do prefer Channel 4 over them all though, has a lot of good programs.

[Sammeth.]

The BBC are often accused of being politically biased towards the left and Labour, indeed in the 1980's the BBC often was biased against the Conservative government at that time and I have noticed how Labour get/got far more coverage in the General Election of 2005 compared to the Conservatives. I do think the BBC can be biased at times. I do prefer Channel 4 over them all though, has a lot of good programs.
We don't need politics in everything!

BBC is legendary, its the largest television company in the world we can't mess with that! Its programmes are top quality. I don't care much for Five or ITV but Channel 4 is rate hot.

[Monopoly]

Channel4 has to be my favorite station ever.
I can't remember the last time I watched something on ITV, Five, BBC1 or BBC2.
BBC3 had one show I cared about - Pulling - and they canceled it. ;/

[-:Undertaker:-]

We don't need politics in everything!

BBC is legendary, its the largest television company in the world we can't mess with that! Its programmes are top quality. I don't care much for Five or ITV but Channel 4 is rate hot.

The topic of the BBC being biased is about politics. :P

[PriceTags]

The topic of the BBC being biased is about politics. :P

But Channel 4 is the topic for discussion :S.

Channel 4 has loads of good formats and quirky documentaries which I would probably miss a lot, because none of the other four main channels can compare to it. BBC is entertaining and informative, ITV is just trashy and so is Five. Gordon Brown is right.

[Sammeth.]

The topic of the BBC being biased is about politics. :P

LISBON TREATY!!!!

[Falcon]

I could never understand FIVE's programming, I flicked through it the other night and 'How it was made' was on at prime time 9pm showing me how pizzas, keyrings and other random idems are produced.. i mean who wants to watch that?

[Aces]

I could never understand FIVE's programming, I flicked through it the other night and 'How it was made' was on at prime time 9pm showing me how pizzas, keyrings and other random idems are produced.. i mean who wants to watch that?
i love those kind of shows - but yes, without channel 4 TV won't be the same.