More than 250,000 people have signed a petition to stop the privatisation of Channel 4.
The broadcaster, which has been publicly owned since it was founded in 1982, is set to be sold by the Government despite a backlash from Tory MPs and the TV industry.
Plans for the potential £1 billion sale will reportedly be set out in a White Paper later in April and will be included in a new Media Bill for spring 2023.
A Change.org petition urging the Government to halt the privatisation of the channel had reached 250,250 signatures by Wednesday afternoon as ministers were urged to ditch the plans.
On the page, the organisers wrote: “To privatise Channel 4 would seriously undermine programming aimed at all the communities, across generations, that make up this country.
“The government has no right to move ahead with a plan that is not in the interest of the viewing public.”
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries on Monday said government ownership was preventing the channel from competing with “streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon”.
She added Channel 4 had a “cherished place in British life”.
In a tweet, she claimed proceeds from the sale of Channel 4 would “be invested in left behind areas investing in indies and creative skills desperately needed in our rapidly growing creative industries”.
In an internal email sent to staff on Monday, Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon wrote: “Our job is to deliver what Parliament tasks us to do, and if or when that changes, then I am confident that this incredible organisation will respond with the relentless energy it has always displayed in pursuit of its goals and the remit.”
Former culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was “uneasy” about the move.
He added: “I’m not against privatisation of big national monopolies like BT, or British Airways or British Gas… But I believe in competition.
“And I think one of the reasons that we have a really healthy, vibrant media is because we give the BBC a very good run for its money when it comes not just to the big commercially successful programming, but also things like news and documentaries and Times Radio is very important in that respect.
“But I think Channel Four is as well. And I wouldn’t like to see that competitive pressure on the BBC reduced.”
