By Emmanuel Oluebube, Bureau Chief, United Kingdom

TMT regulator, Ofcom has published its seventh report to the Secretary of State on media ownership rules for television, radio and newspapers.

These rules, set by Parliament, are intended to promote media plurality and prevent undue influence by any one, or certain types of, media owner. Ofcom has a duty to periodically review and report to the Secretary of State on whether the rules are operating effectively.

Taking account of ongoing market changes – and noting the Government’s consultation on plans to expand media merger laws to capture online news providers – the recent review reiterates the recommendations the regulator put forward in our 2021 report.

As per Ofcom: “We maintain that some rules should be retained as they are, and others should be removed or modified to better reflect the way people access and consume news today. In particular, we reiterate our recommendations that the Secretary of State exercise their powers to:

broaden the scope of the Media Public Interest Test framework to cover concerns in mergers involving a broader range of online news creators, beyond print newspapers and broadcasters. We welcome the Government’s consultation which is broadly in line with this recommendation, and we will continue to monitor these developments; and

repeal certain categories of the Disqualified Persons Restrictions, including the discretionary prohibition for religious bodies, the prohibition on advertising agencies, and the prohibitions for publicly funded bodies.”