Loss-making Channel 4 could be lined up for privatisation as Netflix era transforms the TV market

Loss-making Channel 4 ‘is to be sold off by ministers next year’: Broadcaster could be lined up for privatisation as Netflix era transforms the TV market Channel 4 could be lined up for privatisation as early as next year, it emerged A sell-off has been mooted in the past but plans are being sped up … Read more

New Online Safety Bill risks stifling the press and restricting free speech, campaigners warn

New Government plans to crack down on harmful content online risk stifling the free press, ‘silencing marginalised voices’ and introducing ‘state-backed censorship on a scale never seen in a liberal democracy’, campaigners have warned. The proposed Online Safety Bill is intended to make tech giants accountable for ‘harmful’ content on their platforms. But instead of … Read more

Crowd of 1,000 let in to watch snooker but ministers STILL won’t lift the limit of 30 at funerals

Ministers say they will allow 1,000 fans into a theatre to watch a snooker final – but are stubbornly refusing to raise the 30-person cap on funerals. To the fury of campaigners and MPs, the Government last night rebuffed calls to review the funeral limit – at the same time as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden … Read more

Crowd of 1,000 let in to watch snooker but ministers STILL won’t lift the limit of 30 at funerals

Ministers say they will allow 1,000 fans into a theatre to watch a snooker final – but are stubbornly refusing to raise the 30-person cap on funerals. To the fury of campaigners and MPs, the Government last night rebuffed calls to review the funeral limit – at the same time as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden … Read more

Boris Johnson’s ‘legislative bomb’ to stop the Super League included forcing games to free-to-air TV

Ministers drew up radical plans to slash the cash the European Super League could earn from broadcast rights in Britain by forcing the ill-conceived project to be shown free-to-air, Sportsmail can reveal. The extraordinary proposal was part of the ‘legislative bomb’ that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden were preparing to drop … Read more

Arts Council Nicholas Serota boss opposes tearing down historic statues

Historic statues should NOT be pulled down, Arts Council boss Sir Nicholas Serota tells MPs Sir Nicholas Serota told MPs controversial artefacts could be ‘reinterpreted’  Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has threatened to pull funding from museums The government is opposed to removing statues dedicated to slave owners  Boris Johnson expressed his dismay after slaver Edward … Read more

End of mobile phone blindspots… but masts will be 16 FOOT taller

End of mobile phone blindspots… but masts will be 16 FOOT taller: Minister says proposals to let telecom firms expand the size of masts would ‘propel villages and towns out of the digital dark ages’ New Government plans aim to build larger mobile phone masts in rural areas It is hoped the new masts would … Read more

Watchdog that could rein in the tech giants

Watchdog that could rein in the tech giants: New UK digital regulator might have power to suspend or reverse anti-competitive action Digital regulator could investigate Google’s algorithms, says Oliver Dowden Concerns they disproportionately direct enquiries to Left-leaning news sites  The Digital Markets Unit (DMU) has already begun work on a code of conduct By Paul … Read more

Oliver Dowden slams ‘sneering’ BBC mockery of minister’s union flag

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden slams ‘sneering’ mockery of minister’s union flag and Queen portrait by BBC presenters during interview Oliver Dowden joined criticism of BBC hosts mockery of minister’s union flag Culture Secretary said sometimes the comments descended into ‘sneering’  Government issued guidance for union flags to be flown on buildings every day  By James … Read more

Oliver Dowden slams ‘sneering’ BBC mockery of minister’s union flag

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden slams ‘sneering’ mockery of minister’s union flag and Queen portrait by BBC presenters during interview Oliver Dowden joined criticism of BBC hosts mockery of minister’s union flag Culture Secretary said sometimes the comments descended into ‘sneering’  Government issued guidance for union flags to be flown on buildings every day  By James … Read more