Government Plans to Scrap Local Cross Media Ownership Rules by November

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced plans support strong local media by scrapping local cross media ownership rules.

The proposals are part of Mr Hunt’s DCMS Structural Reform Plan, a “blueprint for activity over the next three years and beyond” which was published last week.

The plan sets out a timetable for creating a new generation of local TV stations, the first of which could be licensed by the summer of 2012.

A consultation paper on the plans is set to published in January 2011 and a final decision could be made the following April, the DCMS said.

Between 10 and 20 local TV stations could be licensed by the end of the Coalition Government’s five-year fixed parliamentary term.

The DCMS hopes that local cross media ownership rules will be relaxed by November this year, to “foster the development of a new breed of strong local media groups”.

The plan also contains details of a timetables for the introduction of a new Communications Bill the rollout of universal superfast broadband.

• Local media ownership rules to go by November (Media Guardian)
• Background to Digital Britain

For further information please contact Lynne Anderson on 020 763 274 24 or lynne_anderson@newspapersoc.org.uk.