ITC Says Proposed Mergers Pass Public Interest Test

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) announced today that the proposed mergers between United News & Media and either Carlton or Granada “would not operate against public interest”. The decision follows two separate public consultations on the cross media aspects of the proposals.

United News & Media owns several newspapers, including the Express titles and the Daily Star. The cross media test is prescribed under the regulations of the Broadcasting Act to decide if the editorial content, economic aspects and the operation of the markets as a whole will be affected by the common ownership of newspaper and television interests.

The ITC cleared both mergers of the public interest test and has notified the Competition Commission of its findings. The Commission is currently conducting an wider ranging investigation on the implications of the proposed mergers and is due to announced its findings on Carlton and United later this month (see Competition Commission Extends Deadline To Report On Carlton/UNM).

Granada has not made a formal bid for either party and is still awaiting the Commission’s decision. The ITC published an issues paper on its proposed merger plans last month (see ITC Publishes Granada Mergers Issues Paper).

ITC: 020 7306 7743