Digital Economy Bill Plans Being Drawn Up to Ease Media Merger Rules

New legislation in the form of a Digital Economy Bill is reportedly being prepared to implement the conclusions of the Digital Britain review.

According to a report in The Times today, the short Bill would be included in the Queen’s Speech in the autumn and would rewrite the merger regimes for television, regional newspapers and local radio as part of a major shake-up of media regulation. The news comes the day before Lord Carter’s Digital Britain summit which the NS is attending.

“The expectation of a Bill gives regional newspaper groups and radio companies hope that they will benefit from an easing of regulations, with the Government increasingly sympathetic to a relaxation of the rules that could allow consolidation between the publishers Trinity Mirror and Johnston Press or the radio groups Bauer, owner of Magic and Kiss, and UTV, the owner of TalkSPORT,”says the report.

“Digital Britain is being touted in Whitehall as a way for Labour to show it has a plan to reorganise the British economy, and reduce its dependence on financial services. However, with time tight before an election, the proposed legislation could yet fail to reach the statute books.”

The Bill is expected to focus on implementing those recommendations of the Digital Britain review that require changes in the law. The Digital Britain report, which will determine the future of Channel 4, is due to be published in early summer. 

• Digital Britain background
• Media Ownership background

For further information please contact Lynne Anderson on 020 7632 7421 or e-mail lynne_anderson@newspapersoc.org.uk.