Responding to reports that the Government was about to announce that the Channel 4 privatisation should not go ahead (see item above under “Broadcasting”), Phil Smith, Director General of ISBA, said that advertisers would be “delighted by the Government’s decision not to dispose of Channel 4”. Mr Smith reminded readers that advertisers had opposed the sale “because they value Channel 4’s diverse audience and because of competition concerns which could arise from broadcaster consolidation”.

Mr Smith also said that “ISBA has long maintained that the sustainability of Channel 4 could be ensured by changes to its business model, rather than ownership”. Further, he said that stepping away from a sale of the broadcaster will bring “certainty for those planning advertising campaigns, supports the UK’s creative industries, and backs future investment in all regions and nations”.

However, Mr Smith recognised that changes to viewership mean that “the TV advertising model must evolve – and that audience reach must be measured effectively. Evolving the model must now be the focus, with advertisers, broadcasters, and government working together to that end”, he concluded. To read ISBA’s statement in full, click here.