Conservative MP Asks Parliament To Examine MacKenzie’s Talk Bid

The consortium headed by Kelvin MacKenzie, which is to propose a takeover bid for Talk Radio with a 20% backing from Rupert Murdoch’s News International, has come under attack from Tory MP, Nicholas Winterton.

Winterton is concerned that the consortium (see Murdoch Backs MacKenzie’s Talk Project), should it succeed in buying Talk, would take control of one of only three independent national radio stations in the UK. This would in turn guarantee Murdoch’s News International a place on the only digital national multiplex (comprising Talk Radio, Classic FM and Virgin Radio at launch with room for up to five further stations thereafter).

Winterton warned ministers this week that this may have serious competition implications and that the House should consider this before allowing the bid to proceed. The Department for Media, Culture & Sport and the Board of Trade must examine this, Winterton said.

A 62% stake in Talk Radio has been put up for sale by its current holders CLT-ufa (see CLT To Examine Bids For Its UK Radio Stations). Talk management is also putting together a buyout proposal.

This warning comes in the same week that BSkyB, also owned by Murdoch, was accused by ITV chairman, Leslie Hill, of trying to take control of the future of digital television (see ‘BSkyB Is Trying To Dominate The Future Of Digital Television’, Says ITV Chairman).