Launched in 1982 by Margaret Thatcher’s government as a culturally challenging alternative to the BBC and ITV, Channel 4 has always been commercially funded through advertising despite being publicly owned.But now, the culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, says it is time to privatise the broadcaster. The government hopes to raise £1bn from the sale.Guardian media editor Jim Waterson tells Nosheen Iqbal that although Channel 4 built its reputation on innovative, edgy programming – and is beloved for greenlighting the kinds of shows that would have never found a home elsewhere – it has in recent years annoyed the Conservative party with its political coverage. Now, the government says, it is time for Channel 4 to find a way to compete directly with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon.
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