Media
Ofcom: Sky's ITV stake has 'public interest issues'
Published Friday, Apr 27 2007, 14:55 BST | By Joanne Oatts
Ofcom has completed its public interest investigation into Sky's acquisition of 17.9% of ITV shares last year.
The regulator believes there are public interest issues, in relation to "sufficient plurality of news provision for both cross media and television news in the UK."
Ofcom will now submit its advice to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, which will inform his decision on making a reference to the Competition Commission.
Darling will announce a decision by May 26, with a report from Ofcom to be published before that.
Ofcom is continuing its review of whether, following Sky's share acquisition, there has been "change of control" at ITV. Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom is required to "consider whether there has been a change of control such that there should be a review of certain ITV plc programming obligations."
The Office of Fair Trading is also reporting today to the Secretary of State on competition issues.
The regulator believes there are public interest issues, in relation to "sufficient plurality of news provision for both cross media and television news in the UK."
Ofcom will now submit its advice to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, which will inform his decision on making a reference to the Competition Commission.
Darling will announce a decision by May 26, with a report from Ofcom to be published before that.
Ofcom is continuing its review of whether, following Sky's share acquisition, there has been "change of control" at ITV. Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom is required to "consider whether there has been a change of control such that there should be a review of certain ITV plc programming obligations."
The Office of Fair Trading is also reporting today to the Secretary of State on competition issues.
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