American tech boss joins Channel 4 board as privatisation looms

The chairman of Snap, the US social media app, will join the board of Channel 4 as the broadcaster braces itself for potential privatisation.

Ofcom, the media regulator, is understood to have appointed Michael Lynton as a non-executive director to the Channel 4 board, just days after it recruited retail veteran Sir Ian Cheshire as chairman of the broadcaster.

Mr Lynton is a former chairman and chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment and the education publisher Pearson, who was reappointed by the Cabinet Office as trustee to the Tate art galleries in October. 

His stints as an executive for American media giants have included a string of high-level roles at entertainment group Time Warner, where he served as chief executive of AOL Europe.

Mr Lynton was previously touted as potential chief executive of Channel 4 in 2001, before the role was handed to Mark Thompson, who went on to become BBC director-general and chief executive of the New York Times. 

Mr Lynton joined Snap in 2017 and is said to have played a pivotal role in encouraging its co-founder Evan Spiegel to turn down a $3bn takeover approach from Facebook. 

The Telegraph understands Mr Lynton was among the candidates vying to become Channel 4 chairman, before Ofcom appointed Sir Ian. 

Mr Lynton's appointment comes as the Great British Bake Off broadcaster awaits the outcome of a government consultation over its future that could see it shifted into private hands. 

Channel 4 is owned by the Government, but advertising funds its programming and other costs.  

Ministers have argued that a sale of Channel 4 would offer greater investment and financial security amid fears that its advertising-funded business model would not survive the streaming age.

The former culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has said that Channel 4 would benefit from having a "deep-pocketed" backed in a similar vein to Channel 5, which is owned by US company Paramount. 

The Telegraph revealed in July that the US broadcaster Discovery had explored a bid for Channel 4. ITV is also understood to be keen on buying the broadcaster should the Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, opt for privatisation. 

Channel 4's board has defended the status quo, saying a new owner motivated by profit could close its regional offices or damage the UK's independent TV production sector by allowing the broadcaster to make its own shows.

Claire Enders, of Enders Analysis, said Mr Lynton was considered a future director-general of the BBC and a big supporter of public service broadcasting. 

"I would see him as a defender of Channel 4's remit, a defender of independence of Channel 4 and someone who would bring gravitas and a lot of corporate governance experience," she added.

Channel 4's board has been overhauled in recent months. Sarah Sands, the former editor of Radio 4's Today programme was recruited as non-executive director in December alongside David Kogan, the sports media rights adviser, Tess Alps, the ex-chair of ThinkBox and Dawn Airey, the former chief executive of Channel 5.

Ofcom declined to comment.