Here’s the Competition Commission rejecting Sky, as it relates to TV news:
We do not think that this shareholding is sufficient to give rise to competition concerns in other areas we’ve looked at such as advertising and TV news provision. As far as the media public interest consideration is concerned, we do not think there is sufficient evidence that the acquisition will have an adverse effect, given the degree of influence that BSkyB has acquired over ITV, and ITN as its news provider, the regulatory requirements for impartiality and a strong culture of editorial independence in TV news.
2 responses to “Sky and ITN”
The Commission’s view is so poorly expressed I had to read it several times before I understood it properly.
Even so I’m not sure I’m there.
They seem to be unpreturbed at the possible effect on ITN of ITV having Rupert on the board.
I have an interest because I’m a former ITN staffer, but I’d fear for the future of the company if the owner of its key competitor, Sky News, sat on the board approving the news budget.
Is there something I’m not getting?
I agree, although ITV has butchered the news budget without any outside help! It just tells us that regulators don’t look at substantive issues, just woolly ones! The strong culture of editorial independence in TV news that I remember was permanently pleading for money to spend on coverage, and then smiling when you were told to do it all for less, and then less again.