Channel 4 refusing to cooperate with Whitehall as sale plans drawn up

Channel 4 is obstructing requests from Whitehall over preparations by the government to sell the state-owned commercial broadcaster, according to Sky News.

A Whitehall source told the news channel that the broadcaster's attitude was "unhelpful" and "self-defeating" as officials request information about its finances required to draw up detailed plans for its sale.

"There is basically hand-to-hand combat taking place as Channel 4 tries to dismiss demands for all sorts of information," they told Sky News.

The broadcaster’s outgoing chairman Lord Burns and chief executive David Abraham have opposed the move publicly, with Lord Burns saying in an interview with The Guardian that “it’s very difficult to see what the financial benefit is for the government, whereas it is possible to see some of the harm that could be created for the whole creative sector”.

Sky News reported that the sale of Channel 4 could raise more than £1bn, with plans already being drawn up by rival broadcasters and private equity groups.