Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Clause 3 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 4 to 10 agreed to. Clause 11 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 12 to 14 agreed to. Clause 15 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 16 to 19 agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to. Clause 20, discussed with new clause 2 (Digital rights to listed events) agreed to. Clause 21, discussed with new clause 8 (Regulations about coverage of listed events), agreed to. Clause 22, discussed with Government amendments, new clause 6 (Sporting and other events of national interest), and new clause 7 (Consultees for sporting and other events of national interest). Clauses 22 and 23 agreed to as amended. Clause 24 agreed to. Clause 25 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 26 and 27 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to, as amended. Committee adjourned. Written evidence reported to the House.

Clause 3 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 4 to 10 agreed to. Clause 11 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 12 to 14 agreed to. Clause 15 agreed to, as amended. Clauses 16 to 19 agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to. Clause 20, discussed with new clause 2 (Digital rights to...

Today the Government is publishing a draft Media Bill. This will ensure we can deliver on key aspects of the Government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, set out last year in our landmark white paper, Up Next. The Media Bill will reform decades-old laws to turbocharge the growth potential of...

Today the Government is publishing a draft Media Bill. This will ensure we can deliver on key aspects of the Government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, set out last year in our landmark white paper, Up Next. The Media Bill will reform decades-old laws to turbocharge the growth potential of...

I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer KC MP:

Today the Government is publishing a draft Media Bill. This will ensure we can deliver on key aspects of...

I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer KC MP:

Today the Government is publishing a draft Media Bill. This will ensure we can deliver on key aspects of...

I. Draft Media Bill. 148p. II. Media Bill Explanatory notes. 64p. III. Memorandum from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. 49p.

I. Draft Media Bill. 148p. II. Media Bill Explanatory notes. 64p. III. Memorandum from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. 49p.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the contribution of Channel 5 to public service broadcasting.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the contribution of Channel 5 to public service broadcasting.

As my right hon. Friend says, Channel 5 is 25 years old this month. I was a news presenter on the channel at the beginning and for the next eight years, and our aim was to make the news more accessible to a wider audience, ensuring that everybody in the country could understand what was going on. Will my right hon. Friend join me in celebrating Channel 5’s team who had the imagination and confidence to do that then, and the current team who continue to bring understandable, relevant, and relatable news to people in all parts of the UK today?

As my right hon. Friend says, Channel 5 is 25 years old this month. I was a news presenter on the channel at the beginning and for the next eight years, and our aim was to make the news more accessible to a wider audience, ensuring that everybody in the country could understand what was going on. Will my right hon. Friend join me in celebrating Channel 5’s team who had the imagination and confidence to do that then, and the current team who continue to bring understandable, relevant, and relatable news to people in all parts of the UK today?

I will—I congratulate and applaud them. My hon. Friend was there on Channel 5’s opening night, and so were the Spice Girls. Some of us in this House are old enough to remember that evening. Channel 5 does a huge amount for independent production companies, and one fifth of all its commissioning spending goes to those smaller companies. That is a larger spend than the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. It also does a huge amount in the regions, and it far exceeds its Ofcom quota every year. As I said in my first reply, it is the levelling-up broadcaster, and I think those statistics alone bear that out. I wish it another 25 years, and I congratulate everybody working there.

I will—I congratulate and applaud them. My hon. Friend was there on Channel 5’s opening night, and so were the Spice Girls. Some of us in this House are old enough to remember that evening. Channel 5 does a huge amount for independent production companies, and one fifth of all its commissioning spending goes to those smaller companies. That is a larger spend than the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. It also does a huge amount in the regions, and it far exceeds its Ofcom quota every year. As I said in my first reply, it is the levelling-up broadcaster, and I think those statistics alone bear that out. I wish it another 25 years, and I congratulate everybody working there.

I warmly congratulate Channel 5 on turning 25, along with Channel 4 on turning 40 and, of course, one of our greatest institutions, the BBC, which is celebrating its centenary in 2022. This is becoming, without doubt, a milestone year for public sector broadcasting in the United Kingdom. While the Government have been playing games with the future of the BBC and Channel 4—and we welcome the extra funding for the World Service—their journalists have risked their lives to report the facts on the front line in Ukraine. Will the Secretary of State give an assurance that any future ownership decisions that she makes on Channel 4 will ensure that its in-depth, independent journalism will be protected beyond 2022?

I warmly congratulate Channel 5 on turning 25, along with Channel 4 on turning 40 and, of course, one of our greatest institutions, the BBC, which is celebrating its centenary in 2022. This is becoming, without doubt, a milestone year for public sector broadcasting in the United Kingdom. While the Government have been playing games with the future of the BBC and Channel 4—and we welcome the extra funding for the World Service—their journalists have risked their lives to report the facts on the front line in Ukraine. Will the Secretary of State give an assurance that any future ownership decisions that she makes on Channel 4 will ensure that its in-depth, independent journalism will be protected beyond 2022?

As I have said a number of times at the Dispatch Box, a decision has not yet been reached on the future of Channel 4. This week I met its chief executive, Alex Mahon, and its chair, Dawn Airey, and discussions are still taking place. I have yet to reach a decision, but when I do, all will be considered, including news broadcasting, the future, and the public service broadcasting remit to the nation. I have not made a decision, but when I do I will be here at the Dispatch Box and the hon. Gentleman will know the details.

As I have said a number of times at the Dispatch Box, a decision has not yet been reached on the future of Channel 4. This week I met its chief executive, Alex Mahon, and its chair, Dawn Airey, and discussions are still taking place. I have yet to reach a decision, but when I do, all will be considered, including news broadcasting, the future, and the public service broadcasting remit to the nation. I have not made a decision, but when I do I will be here at the Dispatch Box and the hon. Gentleman will know the details.

I congratulate Channel 5 on its 25th anniversary, and I was delighted to attend the parliamentary reception this week to celebrate that significant milestone. Channel 5 has played an important and award-winning role in our public service broadcasting system, through its provision of new programming, and its unique focus on children’s television. Thanks to its

significant investment in the regions, it is the levelling-up broadcaster, and I look forward to another successful 25 years.

I congratulate Channel 5 on its 25th anniversary, and I was delighted to attend the parliamentary reception this week to celebrate that significant milestone. Channel 5 has played an important and award-winning role in our public service broadcasting system, through its provision of new programming, and its unique focus on children’s television. Thanks to its

significant investment in the regions, it is the levelling-up broadcaster, and I look forward to another successful 25 years.

Letter dated 03/04/2014 Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Lord Macdonald of Tradestone regarding the debate on cinema on 2 April and commercial broadcasters investment in film. 1 p.

Letter dated 03/04/2014 Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Lord Macdonald of Tradestone regarding the debate on cinema on 2 April and commercial broadcasters investment in film. 1 p.

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Communications Committee on Public Service Broadcasting: Short-term Crisis, Long-term Future? (HL 61 2008-09). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Communications Committee on Public Service Broadcasting: Short-term Crisis, Long-term Future? (HL 61 2008-09). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, we must be profoundly grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, and his colleagues, many of whom have spoken in this debate, for the admirably succinct, clear and well argued report. I shall focus on one issue—how we preserve Channel 4. Despite the advocacy of the noble Lord,...

My Lords, we must be profoundly grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, and his colleagues, many of whom have spoken in this debate, for the admirably succinct, clear and well argued report. I shall focus on one issue—how we preserve Channel 4. Despite the advocacy of the noble Lord,...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, on his quite exceptional chairmanship of our Communications Committee. It would be hard to find a more diligent and hardworking Select Committee, and I certainly hope, along with the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam, that it will at last...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, on his quite exceptional chairmanship of our Communications Committee. It would be hard to find a more diligent and hardworking Select Committee, and I certainly hope, along with the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam, that it will at last...

My Lords, I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, for not only securing the debate but for the excellent report on which it is based. His committee goes from strength to strength and I am far from alone in the House in hoping that as soon as...

My Lords, I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, for not only securing the debate but for the excellent report on which it is based. His committee goes from strength to strength and I am far from alone in the House in hoping that as soon as...