Staff to be rewarded for dedication during a turbulent time as Channel 4 remains publicly owned.

Channel 4 has announced retention bonuses for eligible staff following the government’s decision to abandon plans for privatising the broadcaster. These payments, previously outlined, will be distributed in June 2023 and vary in amount depending on the employee.

A Channel 4 spokesperson described the bonuses as recognition of the “dedication and commitment” demonstrated by staff during what was termed an “extraordinary and challenging period.” The broadcaster highlighted strong creative, commercial, and financial achievements during this time.

The privatisation proposal, championed by former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries under Boris Johnson’s leadership, was officially scrapped by current Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan. Ms Donelan also announced that Channel 4 will now have the ability to produce and own some of its content, a shift from its current model of outsourcing all programming to independent production companies.

This decision has been praised by Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon, who called it a “sensible” move that supports the broadcaster’s commitment to fostering the UK’s creative economy. She added, “We’ve spent decades helping build the independent production sector, and we aim to remain integral to its future for the next 40 years.”

The Media Bill will introduce legislative changes to ease restrictions on Channel 4’s ability to create in-house content. Currently, hit programmes like The Great British Bake Off and Gogglebox are produced by independent companies such as Love Productions and Studio Lambert.

While welcomed by many, the decision to halt privatisation has drawn criticism from its original proponents, including Ms Dorries. Nevertheless, the move secures Channel 4’s status as a publicly owned entity while providing greater creative flexibility moving forward.