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Murdoch faces probe
158/Barry White
DATELINE: 30/7/07
Rupert Murdoch's dominance of the UK media scene is under serious scrutiny by the Competition Commission, following Alistair Darling's reference to the Commission of News Corporation's influence over ITV.
The announcement came on 24 May, when the secretary of state for trade and industry referred last November's British Sky Broadcasting Group's purchase of a 17.9 per cent stake in ITV plc to the Competition Commission under Section 45(2) of the Enterprise Act. Under the Act, the Competition Commission must now conduct a detailed investigation into the effects of the transaction "both on competition and on the specified public interest consideration relating to the plurality of persons with control of media enterprises".
Announcing the reference, Darling said: "My decision reflects consideration of the reports I have received from both the Office of Fair Trading and Ofcom and of other representations I have received about this matter. On the basis of the evidence before me, a fuller investigation by the Competition Commission is justified."
The Commission will report its findings in early November and could force Murdoch to sell his stake in the terrestrial broadcaster if it finds his shareholding in ITV lessens competition in the media sector and works against the public interest. A provisional report is expected in mid-September.
Ofcom has already said that Sky's stake in ITV was anti-competitive and the Office of Fair Trading reported the holding was large enough to qualify for a merger and threatened the independence of the terrestrial broadcaster. On 25 May The Independent reported the Department of Trade and Industry had estimated a combined Sky and ITV would give Murdoch 30 per cent of the TV news market. That's in addition to the 39 per cent News International stake in Sky and a 36 per cent control of the UK newspaper market!
At the end of May, the Competition Commission published a provisional timetable for its inquiry and asked for responses from interested parties. The Campaign and the NUJ have submitted representations to the Commission, the deadline for which was 20 June (a copy of the CPBF submission may be seen on the CPBF web site at: www.cpbf.org.uk).
Much of the work of the Competition Commission may seem technical and remote, but the outcome of the review is important to all who care about the position and influence Murdoch has in UK media. CPBF supporters are urged to contact their MPs and press them to ensure the Commission examines the wider question of Rupert Murdoch's British media holdings, the danger of his dominance to media plurality and the power this gives him to direct Government policy on a wide range of issues.
In the next few months the CPBF will be developing its campaigning work on media ownership with a view to making it an important issue at the next general election. The reference to the Competition Commission opens up real opportunities to media campaigners, so watch the CPBF web site for further information.
Last modified: Monday, July 30, 2007
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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.
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Previous stories
Media Ownership
Lords Probe Media Ownership and News
A Waiting Game
Review: Labour's missed opportunities
Stopping Murdoch Now 5
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'
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Mayor calls for OFT to reconsider proposals
Media policy dominated by 'cosy cartel', says report
Clear Channel move in on Glastonbury
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