IPA Puts Weight Behind Joint Scrutiny Committee
The IPA is supporting the Joint Scrutiny Committee in its call for the Government to rethink its decision to allow non-European investors to buy UK media companies (see Committee Advises Government To Rethink Media Ownership).
The advertising body is concerned that its media members will not be able to buy competitively in the “massively consolidated” market-place likely to result from the relaxation of the foreign ownership regulations. Bruce Haines, IPA president, said: “We were particularly pleased to see Lord Puttnam take direct note of our case – underlying the value of examination of this area by the competition authorities and the imposition of appropriate measures.”
The IPA has joined ISBA and ITV in praising the Parliamentary Committee’s recommendation that Ofcom’s powers over the BBC should be extended (see
Lord Puttnam and his Committee are also suggesting that self-regulation should be extended from the non-broadcast to the broadcast sector and, along with ISBA, the IPA has expressed its conviction that: “The strong recommendation that the Government should ensure that the final Bill does not erect unnecessary barriers to the evolution of accredited self-regulation is a vital first step.”
By and large the media industry appears to have rallied in support of the Joint Scrutiny Committee. However there has been strong speculation that the Government intends to ignore some of the recommendations it has made (see Government To Face Opposition Over Media Ownership).
IPA: 020 7235 7020 www.ipa.co.uk
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