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News Corporation moves closer to a takeover of BSkyB – demo outside DCMS today 12 noon to 2 pm
DATELINE: 30/6/11
The government has said it is "minded to accept" News Corp's assurances about the spin-off of Sky News, but is to consult on some fresh conditions. The spin-off of Sky News is the key condition if News Corp is to be allowed to take full ownership of BSkyB. The conditions include having an independent editorial director at Sky News board meetings and for Sky News to continue to be promoted on other Sky channels. The consultation will run until 8 July.
After that date, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, will take a final decision on whether to allow the takeover or refer it to the Competition Commission.
Earlier advice from the Office of Fair Trading and media regulator Ofcom expressed concern about News Corp owning too much of the British media.
The company currently holds a 39% stake in BSkyB and owns the Sun and Times newspapers.
News Corp offered to spin off Sky News as an independent company, but continue to fund it, in order to prevent the takeover deal being referred to the Competition Commission.
Mr Hunt launched a consultation on the plans on 3 March, as a result of which he has added four extra conditions to the deal:
• Sky News board meetings will be attended by an independent director with editorial experience when editorial decisions are to be made.
• A monitoring trustee will be appointed to make sure News Corp applies with its undertakings on Sky News.
• Other Sky channels will continue to promote Sky News.
• Sky News' Articles of Association have to be approved by the secretary of state.
The government received more than 40,000 representations in its consultation, but said there was nothing to change its earlier view that the spin-off of Sky News would make the BSkyB takeover acceptable.
The deal has been vigorously opposed by an alliance of other newspapers, including the publishers of the Guardian, the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph.DCMS HQ is just round the corner from Trafalgar Square and at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH.
Last modified: Thursday, June 30, 2011
Previous media ownership stories
Takeover of BSkyB 'just the begining'
Taking action against the Murdoch takeover
BSkyB takeover delayed
BSkyB takeover delayed
Williams on 'Outfoxed'
Hunt to give final verdict on News Corp's BSkyB bid on 26 April
What the Sky decision tells us about media reform
BSkyB takeover - what the papers said
It's a whitewash - What a way to decide media policy! -Stop the Murdoch power grab for BSkyB
Pic of the DCMS demo, Thursday 3 March
Rupert Murdoch to fund hived-off Sky News in bid remedy
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Hunt plans competition probe over Sky bid, but undertakings will be considered first
Campaign against Murdoch gets boost
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BSkyB bid: Cautious Hunt set to reject approach from Murdoch
Decision Day
Ofcom to demand further inquiry of BSkyB buyout Competition Commission may now scrutinise bid but Jeremy Hunt could reject recommendation
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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
Takeover of BSkyB 'just the begining'
Taking action against the Murdoch takeover
BSkyB takeover delayed
BSkyB takeover delayed
Williams on 'Outfoxed'
Hunt to give final verdict on News Corp's BSkyB bid on 26 April
What the Sky decision tells us about media reform
BSkyB takeover - what the papers said
It's a whitewash - What a way to decide media policy! -Stop the Murdoch power grab for BSkyB
Pic of the DCMS demo, Thursday 3 March
Rupert Murdoch to fund hived-off Sky News in bid remedy
Sky Movies making 'excess profits', says Competition Commission
Why media pluralism matters
News Corporation and BSkyB: What price remedies?
Don't let history repeat itself
Murdoch and Ofcom – why ownership matters
Hunt plans competition probe over Sky bid, but undertakings will be considered first
Campaign against Murdoch gets boost
Who controls the News
BSkyB bid: Cautious Hunt set to reject approach from Murdoch
Decision Day
Ofcom to demand further inquiry of BSkyB buyout Competition Commission may now scrutinise bid but Jeremy Hunt could reject recommendation
BSkyB takeover - 63% back full and independent probe
Jeremy Hunt is not impartial - please sign the petition
Vince Cable 'has declared war on Murdoch'
EU clears Murdoch's News Corporation BSkyB bid
Keeping the pressure on Murdoch
Campaign launches Radio Free Press
BSkyB and News Corp - Campaign welcomes Cable's intervention
Business Secretary intervenes in proposed BSkyB acquisition
