From paidContent:UK: In UK, the alternative public broadcaster Channel 4’s new media losses grew from £6 million to £15.4 million in 2007, as the broadcaster swung to its first ever deficit, leaving it more eager than ever for public service funding reform. New media revenues were up from £18.5 million to £26.7 million, today’s annual report says, but the loss “arises as a result of early trading losses for this new business and related platform investment”. C4 unified new media staff in their first ever dedicated directorate in November, under former Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) exec Jon Gisby, and started 4oD in earnest. More here.
Then, in a rather controversial declaration, former Endemol creative director Peter Bazalgette has called for BBC Radio 1 and 2 to be sold and for BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 to be privatised to finance a public-service online publisher. With the money: “The next generation of comedy talent would post their videos – the most-watched would then earn a bursary. It would link the existing offerings of museums, galleries, theatre companies, opera houses and concert halls.” Privatising C4 is one of four ideas floated by Ofcom in its review, for a service that is struggling financially to meet the digital future and that is likely to end up with money from the BBC license fee. More here.