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OFT publishes discussion paper on review into local and regional media

29/09    10 March 2009

The Office of Fair Trading today published a discussion paper as part of its exploratory review into the local and regional media merger regime.

Download the Review of the local and regional media merger regimes (pdf 187 kb)

The discussion paper briefly sets out how the media merger regime operates. It then focuses on areas where the Government and stakeholders have identified potential issues of relevance to the review, including questions which stakeholders may wish to consider in framing their responses to the paper.

The review follows the recent Digital Britain Interim Report, in which the Government invited the OFT, together with Ofcom and other interested parties, to examine whether any change is needed in the merger regime for local and regional media - with a particular focus on print media.

The OFT intends to submit key findings and any recommendations arising from its review to the Government to fit the timescale for publication of the final Digital Britain report, due in early summer 2009.

Amelia Fletcher, OFT Senior Director of Mergers said:

'We are grateful for the many useful responses to our initial request for views. We now look forward to receiving further evidence on the questions we raise in this discussion paper.'

Responses to the discussion  paper are invited by 31 March 2009 to Local Media Review, 9C12, Office of Fair Trading, Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8JX, or to localmediareview@oft.gsi.gov.uk.

NOTES

1. The review was launched on 13 February 2009 with a request for initial views from stakeholders. See previous press release 14/09.

2. At the conclusion of its review, the OFT will report to the Government on the operation of the existing media merger regime to inform whether any changes to the regime may be desirable or necessary. Reflecting the exploratory nature of the review, the report may include recommendations for further work to be undertaken in this area.

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