Public Opposed To Foreign Ownership Of UK Media
More than half of the people in Britain are opposed to Government plans to allow foreign ownership of UK media assets, according to research from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS).
According to the research, commissioned by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), 52% are against the proposal to liberalise the rules surrounding the ownership of UK media assets, as put forward in the Communications Bill (see Government Finally Publishes Communications Bill). Just 23% of people agreed with the Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, while 24% of respondents remained undecided.
A spokesperson for the NUJ commented: “These results prove that the public are concerned about the global ownership of our premier commercial TV channel. If a company like Disney or AOL Time Warner was able to get hold of ITV it would undoubtedly lead to greater Americanisation of our culture. The poll itself shows how far things have already gone, with the least resistance appearing among the young.”
The research shows that the strongest opposition to foreign ownership is in the 65 and above age group, where 68% oppose the measure. In contrast, the only group where support for the measure outweighs opposition is amongst 16 to 24 year olds, where 42% agree with the proposal.
Geographically, the strongest opposition to the plans was in the regions, due to the belief that their specialised ITV programming could be in jeopardy if a single global company owned the Network. The ‘no’ vote was 58% in Wales and 57% in the Midlands and Scotland.
The NUJ has been a vociferous critic of the liberalisation of media ownership put forward in the Communications Bill, opposing not only foreign ownership but plans to allow advertising agencies and religious groups to own TV stations.
According to NUJ: “Advertising agencies are global conglomerates with interests in all aspects of the commercial media. Allowing them to own TV stations will simply extend their power to undermine the quality and objectivity of programming in the interests of profit.”
Plans to liberalise the rules governing the foreign ownership of UK media assets have proved controversial, and over 100 MPs have signed a Parliamentary motion to oppose the measure, on the grounds that US media giants will homogenise the UK market.
However, News Corp chairman, Rupert Murdoch, has already ruled out any plans to take-over Channel Five (see Murdoch Denies Interest In Five), although Sumner Redstone, chairman of Viacom, has refused to rule out a bid for ITV (see Viacom Eyes Prospect Of ITV Takeover).
Analysts have suggested that Clear Channel is poised to take a significant stake in Britain’s radio industry when the proposals become law later this year, despite the group’s assertion it would not acquire UK radio assets through hostile bids (see Clear Channel Rules Out Hostile UK Radio Bids)
The NUJ claims that the public opposition to foreign ownership should not be ignored, It states: “The Government’s apparent determination to put ITV at the mercy of the global media giants is now shown to be untenable. There is nothing to be gained and a lot to lose. These are companies that know nothing of the public broadcasting system and their sole interest is the extraction of profit to boost their currently dwindling fortunes.”
National Union of Journalists: 0207 278 7916 www.nuj.org.uk Taylor Nelson Sofres: 0207 868 6500 www.tnsofres.com
Recent Related Stories from NewsLine Committee Advises Government To Rethink Media Ownership Draft Communications Bill Relaxes Cross Media Rules ITN Appeals For Relaxation Of Ownership Laws
Subscribers can access ten years of NewsLine articles by clicking the Search button to the left