Ofcom

Ofcom offices in Southwark, London

Credit: Matt Biddulph on Flickr. Some rights reserved

Ofcom is inviting submissions to a consultation on media ownership and plurality in the UK.

The broadcast regulator has been asked by the culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to provide advice on measuring media plurality in the wake of the controversy over News Corporation's failed bid for full control of the British broadcaster BSkyB.

The bid, which was abandoned by News Corp after the phone-hacking scandal aroused protest among MPs, could not have been subject to an assessment under UK law until the point at which a merger was intended, despite concerns that the acquisition would contribute to News Corp's stake in the UK media.

Following those concerns, Hunt is seeking to review the circumstances under which media ownership can be formally assessed.

Ofcom announced today that it is inviting submissions from interested parties to a consultation on the issue, which will contribute to a report to be published and submitted to the Leveson inquiry next year.

Today's Ofcom announcement sets out details of the five questions they have been asked by Hunt:
  • What are the options for measuring media plurality across platforms? What do you recommend is the best approach?

  • Is it practical or advisable to set absolute limits on news market share?

  • What could trigger a review of plurality in the absence of a merger, how might this be monitored and by whom?

  • Could or should a framework for measuring levels of plurality include websites and if so which ones?

  • Whether or how it should include the BBC?
It also outlined the key stages of its research, which will include: setting out what is meant by plurality and how it is protected by current regulation; undertaking market analysis to assess how news is defined and supplied in the UK and how editorial influence is exerted; how audiences consume news across a range of different platforms; whether there are any international case studies to be drawn on; and finally advising Hunt on policy options for future plurality measurement and regulation.

Ofcom is asking those who intend to make a submission to consider the following questions:
  • What are the options for measuring media plurality across platforms?

  • What do you recommend is the best approach?

  • Is it practical or advisable to set absolute limits on news market share?
  • What are the potential metrics that could be useful to assess plurality (for example, in the past we have used reach, minutes, share of references, ‘main source’ of news)?

  • Is there a way to assess the relative importance of different media in shaping public opinion?

  • News and current affairs have been established as key genres particularly critical for informing democracy. Should any other genres be considered, and what evidence is there of their capacity to influence public opinion?

  • How might the market evolve in future and how might this affect options for measuring media plurality across platforms?

  • At what point in the news value chain is there potential for the greatest level of editorial influence over content?

  • Is it possible to define a set of characteristics of a market that could raise concerns about levels of plurality?

  • To what extent do other laws (for example the competition law) or sectoral characteristics (such as multisourcing by consumers) act as safeguards for plurality?

  • Are there any regions, areas or audiences (such as the devolved nations) which may require separate consideration, and why?

  • What could trigger a review of plurality in the absence of a merger, how might this be monitored and by whom?

  • The Secretary of State identified concentration arising from organic growth and market exit in his recent speech. What other potential triggers might there be?

  • Could or should a framework for measuring levels of plurality include websites and if so which ones? Whether or how it should include the BBC?
Submissions can be made online, by email, or by post, and the deadline is 18 November.
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