Commenting on the government’s decision to go ahead with plans to privatise Channel 4, Mark Littlewood, Director General at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“This is a welcome step in the modernisation of British broadcasting. There is now such a welcome diversity in television output that it makes no sense to divide TV into public sector and commercial sector.

“Channel 4 is likely to go from strength to strength as a consequence of this move. One can only hope that this is the first step towards liberating the BBC and its viewers from the dead hand of the outdated licence fee.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Contact: Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715 942 731

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The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.