Channel 4 future: Broadcaster’s former chairman to air his views to Lords committee
6 September 2021
Former Channel 4 chairman Lord Burns will give evidence to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee tomorrow (Tuesday 7 September from 3.00 p.m.) as it launches an inquiry into the future of the broadcaster.
Lord Burns will be joined by David Elstein, former chief executive of Channel 5.
Ministers are consulting on the possible privatisation of Channel 4 – the government’s preferred option - and now peers will investigate its remit and ownership.
The committee will hear from:
At 3.00 p.m.
- Lord Burns, former Chair of Channel 4
- David Elstein, former CEO of Channel 5
At 4.00 p.m.
- Krishnendu Majumdar, Chair, Bafta and co-founder, Me+You Productions
- John McVay, Chair, Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television
- Elizabeth Karlsen, co-founder, Number 9 Films
Questions are likely to include:
- How effectively does Channel 4 contribute to the objectives of public service broadcasting?
- What would be the risks and benefits of privatising Channel 4?
- How well does Channel 4 fulfil its creative objectives, including to serve diverse audiences and challenge established views?
