MPs back Channel 4 independence

CHANNEL 4's bid for financial independence from the ITV companies gets a boost today when five MPs from all three major parties put down a motion calling for government action, writes Michael Leapman.

Sir Michael Bishop, chairman of Channel 4, is due to meet Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State for National Heritage, tomorrow to urge him to add legislation about Channel 4 to forthcoming legislation on broadcasting.

The 1990 Broadcasting Act allowed Channel 4 to sell advertising with a 'safety net' by which ITV companies would subsidise the minority if its revenue fell to less than 14 per cent of the total advertising on commercial TV.

In return, the ITV companies get a proportion of all Channel 4 revenue above 14 per cent. This means the minority channel is, in effect, subsidising the larger one.