The Independent Television Commission (ITC) is inviting public comment on the proposed merger between media companies Carlton Communications and United News & Media (UNM) (see Media Merger May Hit Regulatory Obstacles). Specifically, the Commission is seeking to find out whether the single ownership of the two groups’ businesses might operate against the public interest.
Carlton owns the ITV franchises for London weekday television (Carlton Television), Central Television, Westcountry Television and also has 20% stakes in Meridian Broadcasting and ITV breakfast broadcaster GMTV. UNM owns the remainder of Meridian, Anglia Television, HTV and a 29% stake in Channel 5. As well as this United publishes the Express, Express On Sunday and Daily Star national newspapers.
The Broadcasting Act states that Carlton, as a regional ITV broadcaster and provider of digital programming, may not become connected with a proprietor of a national newspaper and continue to provide these services unless the ITC determines that such a tie-in would not operate against the public interest.
The closing date for submissions to the Commission is Monday 7 February.
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