House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Consultation on updating the media mergers regime to include online news
06 November 2024 · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Proposed by Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The media mergers regime under the Enterprise Act 2002 is to be updated to include online news publications.
- A six-week technical public consultation has been launched to gather views on the expansion of the legislation.
- The consultation follows Ofcom's Statement on the Future of Media Plurality from 2021.
Issue summary
The statement addresses the need to update the media mergers regime under the Enterprise Act 2002 to include online news publications in response to changes in how people consume news.
Action requested
I am launching a six-week technical public consultation to seek views on expanding legislation governing media mergers, including print and online news publications and news programmes. This follows advice from Ofcom's Statement on the Future of Media Plurality in 2021.
Key facts
- Over two thirds (71%) of UK adults now access news online.
- The consultation will last for six weeks.
- Ofcom's 2021 Statement on the Future of Media Plurality informed this initiative.