» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Stopping Murdoch Now 5
The government is referring BSkyB's purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV to the Competition Commission
DATELINE: 6/6/07
The government is referring BSkyB's purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV to the Competition Commission. The Office of Fair Trading reported in April that the purchase cast doubt on the independence of ITV. "On the basis of the evidence before me, a fuller investigation by the Competition Commission is justified," DTI Secretary of State Alistair Darling said.
The CPBF has welcomed the findings by Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading, which could lead to a full-blown inquiry. Both the Office of Fair Trading and Ofcom warned that last November's swoop by BSkyB on rival commercial broadcaster ITV has unfairly distorted the British media market.
Both regulators have told trade secretary Alistair Darling that the satellite broadcaster's acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV raises significant competition concerns. The news raises the possibility of one of Gordon Brown's lieutenants picking a fight with Rupert Murdoch, who has been courted by Labour, at the same time as the chancellor hopes to move into No 10.
But writing in the Guardian on Saturday 28 April, Richard Wray and Owen Gibson stated that: 'Government insiders maintain that the chancellor has little appetite for a full-frontal assault on Mr Murdoch, whose empire includes the Times and the Sun. Support from the latter was seen by Labour party strategists as a crucial factor in Mr Blair's three election victories.'
Alistair Darling has until 26 May to decide whether to call on the Competition Commission to fully investigate Sky's move on ITV and its effect on the entire media market. According to the Guardian, such an investigation could result in Sky being forced to sell off all or part of the stake it bought for just under £1bn. Off course Murdoch could sell up before the May deadline, but would risk making a financial loss and losing face.
Even without a reference, the OFT could still trigger its own Competition commission inquiry. John Fingleton, OFT chief executive, made his views about the situation plain, saying the "partial ownership link" between ITV and Sky "raises significant competition concerns".
"Sky's shareholding means that ITV is no longer fully independent, and this may alter the future competitive landscape, especially as we approach digital switchover," he added.
Sky has defended its record of believing in 'choice and competition' following the announcement. In a statement Sky said that the company had 'led the unprecedented expansion in choice and diversity of views to British families'.
John Grogan MP who has led a parliamentary campaign against BSkyB's acquisition also welcomed the news: "This is the biggest blow a British regulator has ever delivered to Rupert Murdoch. I think it is now politically inconceivable that Alistair Darling will not now refer the BSkyB stake in ITV for a full investigation by the Competition Commission."
Virgin Media has also welcomed the news: 'We have consistently maintained that the acquisition raises significant concerns.'
LINKSMurdoch bid to be investigated - the BBC story
Last modified: Monday, June 11, 2007
Previous media ownership stories
Rivals clarify complaints over Sky dominance
Stopping Murdoch Now (2)
Stopping Murdoch now!
Stopping Murdoch Now!
Early Day Motion 309: Attempted takeover of ITV by Sky
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
-
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
Rivals clarify complaints over Sky dominance
Stopping Murdoch Now (2)
Stopping Murdoch now!
Stopping Murdoch Now!
Early Day Motion 309: Attempted takeover of ITV by Sky
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
