United Kingdom: Closed consultation on amendments to Enterprise Act 2002 relating to government intervention in media mergers to include online news

Description

Closed consultation on amendments to Enterprise Act 2002 relating to government intervention in media mergers to include online news

On 18 December 2024, the UK Department for Culture, Media, and Sport closes its consultation on proposed amendments to the Enterprise Act 2002. This Act allows the Secretary of State to intervene in mergers and acquisitions of broadcasters and traditional print media where such activity may adversely impact accurate reporting, freedom of expression, and media plurality. The proposed amendments expand the scope of the Act to also cover online news publications as well as publications that are circulated on a weekly or monthly basis. The Act currently only applies to local newspapers, daily newspapers, and Sunday editions of daily newspapers. Another proposed change is to expand the current definition of "public interest" in the Act to account for a sufficient plurality of views in the media on the basis that mergers could reduce this diversity. An additional proposed change is to update rules of foreign state intervention to capture cases where foreign state actors may seek to acquire or exert influence over online news publications with significant UK readership or editorial presence.

Original source

Scope

Policy Area
Competition
Policy Instrument
Merger control regulation
Regulated Economic Activity
other service provider
Implementation Level
national
Government Branch
executive
Government Body
central government

Complete timeline of this policy change

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2024-11-06
in consultation

On 6 November 2024, the UK Department for Culture, Media, and Sport opened a consultation on propos…

2024-12-18
processing consultation

On 18 December 2024, the UK Department for Culture, Media, and Sport closes its consultation on pro…

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