» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Early Day Motion 309: Attempted takeover of ITV by Sky
Motion published 27 November 2006, sponsored by John Grogan
DATELINE: 19/12/06
That this House notes with concern Sky's sudden raid to buy 17.9 per cent. of ITV, becoming the largest shareholder in the company;
further notes that this move will deter other investors;
calls on the Government to bring forward the review of Public Service Broadcasting; is particularly concerned that this raid may give Sky the inside track on the ITV news contract in 2008;
further calls upon Ofcom and the OFT to examine carefully whether the raid gives Sky the ability materially to influence ITV;
believes that a prima facie case exists for the Secretary of State to intervene subsequently and instruct Ofcom to undertake a public interest inquiry;
further believes that this episode demonstrates the increasing influence of BSKYB, which accounted for 40 per cent. of total television revenue in 2005, nearly twice that of the BBC at 23 per cent.;
further notes Sky's opposition to Government plans for digital switchover and that its ability to influence the strategy of ITV makes the future of Freeview uncertain and the prospects for a PSB-led Freesat service less likely;
further believes that these developments underline the importance of strong independent public service broadcasters producing British programming to balance the predominantly American and sports programming of Sky;
and consequently calls on the Government to secure the future of Channel 4 and provide an adequate licence fee settlement for the BBC to allow it to increase quality programming, properly to equip the country for digital switchover and to initiate a substantial transfer of production to the North of England.
Last modified: Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Previous media ownership stories
Stopping Murdoch now
Turmoil at the Telegraph
Independent news network expands
Australian media law reform plan goes off air indefinitely
Off and On: the OFT and Newspaper Distribution
Prodi to undo Berlusconi's media laws
Who does he think he is?
No Sale for Northcliffe
Report on 'Content diversity in newspapers and television'
Corporate greed rules
Transnational corporate censorship threatens British music
Satisfying the advertisers
Ottakar’s Demise
Set the Media Free - Media Watch Global
Mayor calls for OFT to reconsider proposals
Media policy dominated by 'cosy cartel', says report
Clear Channel move in on Glastonbury
It’s Money That Matters
Getty acquisition deadline
Distribution Danger
VLV pushes for launch of Free-to-Air Digital Satellite
CPBF responds to OFT proposals on magazine distribution
OFT opinion threatens small magazine publishers
Monitoring Murdoch - a blogger speaks
IFJ welcomes 'First Step', calls on Berlusconi to quit TV
Protecting public service broadcasting
The News Monopoly
'New communists' worried by software patents
Scottish Media Group Announces Sale
-
Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
-
Previous stories
Media Ownership
Stopping Murdoch now
Turmoil at the Telegraph
Independent news network expands
Australian media law reform plan goes off air indefinitely
Off and On: the OFT and Newspaper Distribution
Prodi to undo Berlusconi's media laws
Who does he think he is?
No Sale for Northcliffe
Report on 'Content diversity in newspapers and television'
Corporate greed rules
Transnational corporate censorship threatens British music
Satisfying the advertisers
Ottakar’s Demise
Set the Media Free - Media Watch Global
Mayor calls for OFT to reconsider proposals
Media policy dominated by 'cosy cartel', says report
Clear Channel move in on Glastonbury
It’s Money That Matters
Getty acquisition deadline
Distribution Danger
VLV pushes for launch of Free-to-Air Digital Satellite
CPBF responds to OFT proposals on magazine distribution
OFT opinion threatens small magazine publishers
Monitoring Murdoch - a blogger speaks
IFJ welcomes 'First Step', calls on Berlusconi to quit TV
Protecting public service broadcasting
The News Monopoly
'New communists' worried by software patents
Scottish Media Group Announces Sale
