News Release
8 January 2009
NS WELCOMES REPORTS OF CROSS-MEDIA OWNERSHIP RELAXATION
The NS has welcomed reports that the government may recommend
a relaxation of cross-media ownership rules, while calling for
further reform of newspaper merger controls.
Media Guardian
reported this week that a report compiled by Lord Carter,
Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting, will
recommend that rules restricting cross-media ownership be
relaxed.
Santha Rasaiah, NS director of the NS’ political, editorial
and regulatory affairs department, said: “The NS successfully
campaigned for the relaxation of the cross media rules under the
Communications Act 2003, which allowed local newspapers to own
broadcasting outlets in their core circulation areas for the first
time.
“Further reform would be welcome. However this should not
be limited to the cross media regime. The NS also advocates further
reform of newspaper merger controls and a more realistic approach
to assessment of competition in local media markets by the
competition authorities.”
The interim report Digital Britain is expected to be
published later this month.
The NS, the voice of Britain’s local
media, represents 1300 newspapers, 1200 websites, 450 magazines,
250 ultra local titles, 45 radio stations and two TV
stations.