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Media Ownership

News items and press releases on Media Ownership.
8 December 2011 Jeremy Hunt Considers Changes to Local Media Merger Rules
1 December 2011 UK Media Regulation is Constraining Growth and 'Drowning' StrugglersMediatel
30 November 2011 Hunt hints at new legislation for local newspaper mergersPress Gazette
25 November 2011 Now Northcliffe Closes Kent PapersGreenslade
4 November 2011 Local Press Highlighted as 'Jewel in UK Creative Industries' Crown' in House of Lords
3 November 2011 Ofcom Issued Stark Warning of Newspaper Closures Over Kent Deal
18 October 2011 OFT Refers KM Group's Proposed Acquisition of the Kent Regional News and Media Newspapers
15 June 2011 Abolition of Local Cross Media Ownership Rules
8 June 2011 Note of Caution Sounded Over Local TV Plans
17 February 2011 Local Cross-media Ownership Rules
15 September 2010 Fordham: Latest Publisher to Take Part in Shott Review
11 August 2010 Ofcom Advises on Abolition of Local Cross-Media Ownership Controls
21 July 2010 Government Plans to Scrap Local Cross Media Ownership Rules by November
9 June 2010 Government Looks at Removing Cross-media Ownership Rules
19 November 2009 Ofcom Recommends Relaxation of Cross Media Ownership Rules
15 June 2009 OFT publishes review of media merger regimeOFT
15 June 2009 Review of the local and regional media merger regime: Final reportOFT
13 May 2009 OFT Report on Local Media Merger Review Delayed
15 April 2009 Digital Economy Bill Plans Being Drawn Up to Ease Media Merger Rules
31 March 2009 Local Media Mergers: Modernising the Approach to Safeguard Industry’s Multimedia Future
10 March 2009 OFT publishes discussion paper on review into local and regional mediaOFT
13 February 2009 OFT Review into Local Media Merger Regime
21 January 2009 Ofcom PSB Report: NS Welcomes More Opportunities for Local Television
8 January 2009 NS Welcomes Reports of Cross-Media Ownership Relaxation

Media Ownership and the Communications Act 2003

The Communications Act 2003 governs newspaper ownership and cross-media ownership.

The Newspaper Society consistently campaigned for liberalisation of media ownership controls and lobbied for changes under the Communications Act 2003.

The Communications Act 2003 abolished the previous newspaper transfer requirement for prior consent from the Secretary of State, mandatory references to the Competition Commission and criminal sanctions. These changes were supported by the industry. However, transfers and mergers will not be solely subject to examination on competition grounds by the competition authorities. The Secretary of State has acquired a wide discretion to intervene and decide if the transaction is permissible on public interest grounds (relating both to newspapers and cross-media criteria, if broadcasting interests are also involved). OFCOM will have an advisory role. Government and Parliamentary assurances were given that any intervention into local newspaper transfers would be rare and exceptional.

Cross-media controls have also been changed by the Communications Act 2003. As a result of the Society's representations during the passage of the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996, regional and local newspaper companies can own outright broadcasting stations in their titles' core circulation areas, subject to public interest tests. The new Act allows such cross-media ownership by the regional and local press to continue. However, the new media public interest test will allow intervention by the Secretary of State into cross-media mergers and examination by the Competition Commission and OFCOM.

Statutory guidance on the operation of the media mergers provisions has been published and changes were made in the course of consultation in response to the Society's and industry's representations.  The Society continues its discussions with the DCMS, DTI, OFT and OFCOM on the implementation of the Communications Act 2003.

The Digital Britain initiative led to the OFT Review of Local Media Mergers and the introduction of Local Media Assessments by Ofcom. The Coalition Government announced proposals for relaxation of local cross-media ownership rules, the Shott Review, introduction of local television and a Local Media Plan.

The NS continues discussions with DCMS, BIS, OFT and Ofcom. The Newspaper Society has also made a series of representations on the BBC.

Repressive EU media ownership laws have been periodically proposed and rebuffed. The Newspaper Society contributes to the European Newspaper Publishers Association's lobbying in Europe.