New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is said to be minded to drop the previous government's plans to sell off Channel 4.
Earlier this year Nadine Dorries - culture secretary under Boris Johnson - confirmed that the government was pressing ahead with privatising the 40-year-old broadcaster, which is publicly owned but funded through advertising rather than the taxpayer.
The move drew widespread criticism from across the industry and parliament itself, including from many in the Conservative Party, and now The Financial Times says that Sunak will ditch the proposal.
An unnamed senior Tory told the newspaper: "It's likely that the government will want to quietly drop privatisation.
"It's unpopular with some parts of the party, has a huge impact on our creative sector and the media bill can be pushed through without including it."
The Prime Minister's press secretary said: "We are looking at all the campaign pledges and we are looking at whether it is the right time to take them forward."
New culture secretary Michelle Donelan, who has previously indicated that she may drop the plans, is expected to make an official announcement in the near future. body check tags ::
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