Upcoming Events

Channel 4 –  sale of the century or end of an era?

Channel Four was set up in 1982 by Mrs Thatcher’s government as an advertising-funded Public Service Broadcaster - which cost viewers, taxpayers and government nothing.

It was controversial from the start for its content, which particularly angered some critics.
 
In 1995 John Whittingdale, then in John Major’s Government made his first, unsuccessful attempt to privatise C4.

Watch event recording

He tried again in 1996 and  2015, and now the government is trying again with the argument that C4 needs the big money it can only get from a major media organisation to compete with the “California Streamers”.

C4 itself disputes this and so do many of its stakeholders.

Hear the arguments and the debate from key industry players in our exclusive live TMS discussion on Wednesday September 22nd at 6pm.

The discussion on Wednesday is highly topical - given last week's Government reshuffle, the ending of the DCMS consultation phase, and the ongoing debate around the role and future of the channel.

Our Panel

David Elstein - Former Director of Programmes at Thames TV, Head of Programming at BSkyB, and CEO Channel 5

Patrick Barwise  - Professor of Management and Marketing at London Business School

Lorraine Heggessey  - Former Controller of BBC1 and CEO of Talkback Thames

Phil Smith  - Director General ISBA

Our Chair

James Ball - Global Editor at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

TICKETS

Please note: 
Entry tickets are  £10 each which helps cover our costs.
We will be making a number of free tickets available for students and anyone currently un-waged.

The Media Society is a volunteer run Charity committed to open access for all our Media themed  events.
 
ZOOM waiting room open at 5.45pm.
Conversation starts at 6.00pm prompt.