British Regulator Recommends Looser Media Cross-Ownership Rules

Britain's communications industry regulatory body recommended Tuesday that the government loosen restrictions on same-market ownership of newspapers and broadcast. The agency known as Ofcom is recommending liberalizing the local cross media ownership rules "so that the only restriction is on owning all three of: local newspapers (with 50% plus local market share); a local radio station; and a regional Channel 3 license." "This liberalization will increase the flexibility of local media to respond to market pressures," Ofcom CEO Ed Richards says in a statement. "Consumers still rely on television, radio and press for news so we are not recommending complete removal of the rules." The looser ownership regulations would apply only to local newspapers and not to nationally circulated papers.