Channel 4 relocating out of London would give a "clear benefit to the country", Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has told MPs.
Ms Bradley said the Government were "still in discussions" about a move, but said as a publicly owned broadcaster Channel 4 was expected to deliver "public benefits above and beyond commercial benefits".
Labour former minister David Hanson, speaking during culture, media and sport questions, told MPs that there would be a £600 million boost to broadcasting if the relocation went ahead.
The West Midlands has submitted proposals for Channel 4 to move its headquarters to a site near the planned HS2 Curzon Street station in Birmingham, or near the Birmingham Interchange station planned for Solihull.
Moving to the West Midlands would create 3,412 jobs in the region, a Government study has concluded.
And it would grow the region's economy by £235 million.
Hanson said: "Will the Secretary of State confirm that there is an approximate £600 million benefit to broadcasting by moving Channel 4 out of London.
"Will she also confirm that it is unacceptable that only four of 120 commissioners of programmes for Channel 4 currently live outside of London.
"There's an economic benefit, whether its Salford, which I prefer, Birmingham, Sheffield or Leeds it should be done now."
Ms Bradley said: "We have been clear all along that as publicly owned broadcaster Channel 4 must provide for and reflect the country as a whole.
"We are still in discussions with Channel 4 about how it should do this including relocating staff out of London and we will set out next steps in due course."
She added: "There are many different estimates of the benefit but there is a clear benefit to the country of Channel 4 relocating out of London.
"They are a publicly owned broadcaster, as a publicly owned broadcaster we expect them to deliver public benefits above and beyond commercial benefits and that includes relocating out of London."
