Jeremy Hunt Confirms Removal of All Local Cross-Media Ownership Rules

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture Olympics Media and Sport, confirmed this week in a speech on Local TV that the Government will shortly bring forward an order to remove all remaining local cross-media rules. Regional media companies will be able to own newspapers, radio and television stations in their titles’ core circulation areas.

The Newspaper Society has consistently and constantly lobbied for this complete abolition of the specialised local cross-media ownership rules, building upon the success of the industry’s previous campaigns which had allowed local newspaper companies to own outright local radio stations in their titles’ circulation areas.

Jeremy Hunt was outlining his vision for local, cross-platform multimedia TV services in his speech to the Royal Television Society.

The Culture Secretary’s speech came as Nicholas Shott’s panel, which had heard evidence from publishers such as Trinity Mirror, Johnston Press, Iliffe News & Media, published its initial findings on proposals for Local Television in the UK News.

• Interim Findings – Local Television in the UK (DCMS)
• A Vision of Local Media (DCMS)
• Local TV Needs Financial Lifeline, Says Panel (Financial Times)
• Jeremy Hunt to make local content a condition of public service licences (Media Guardian)

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