DCMS Select Committee hears oral evidence from executives at ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5
On 6th June 2023, as part of the next phase of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Media Bill, the DCMS Select Committee (the “Committee”) heard oral evidence from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
The hearing lasted around 90 minutes, during which ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 shared their views on many aspects of the draft Media Bill, including:
- the removal of specific genres from the public service broadcasting (PSB) remit and the impact of this on diversity in programming;
- the role of Ofcom in regulating PSBs; and
- the future of Channel 4 and the abolition of the broadcaster-publisher split (i.e. Channel 4 will be provided with the flexibility to make some of its own content).
Although no further oral hearings are currently scheduled, the Committee may call further witnesses as it continues to scrutinise the draft Media Bill. It will then report its recommendations on how the Bill might be improved to Parliament.
To view the full transcript of the hearing, click here.
We are monitoring the Media Bill’s progress, and will be updating our Media Bill Tracker webpage, available here, with any further news.
