Author Archive for Luke

OFT recommends referring BSkyB to Competition Commission over ITV stake

OFT press release follows…
The OFT today reported to the Secretary of State on the completed acquisition by British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (BSkyB) of a 17.9 per cent stake in ITV plc (ITV). The OFT believes that the test for a merger reference to the Competition Commission is met on competition grounds.
The report confirms the [...]

Michael Grade on Ofcom’s decision to ban junk food advertising…

Speaking at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer’s ‘Fresh Visions from Familiar Faces – sustaining quality content into the digital age’ conference today, ITV’s Executive Chairman, Michael Grade reportedly said -
“I’m not opposed to regulation. What concerns me is that [when] any special interest group pops up and gets a campaign going and makes [...]

NCC, Consumers and Heaney

It was interesting to note a number of articles at the weekend suggesting that the National Consumer Council are looking to ramp up pressure on Ofcom to force a settlement in the Sky/Virgin Media spat.
As I have said before it is amusing how many consumer groups and panels have attached themselves to this issue seemingly [...]

Sunday Telegraph – ‘Ofcom execs ‘wined and dined”

Today’s Sunday Telegraph reports…
“The impartiality of communications industry watchdog Ofcom was being questioned last night, after it emerged that its two most senior radio executives attended a dinner party at the Hilton hotel in Dallas hosted by a company which weeks later won a bid to operate a UK radio station.
Ofcom’s director of radio, Peter [...]

BSkyB respond to Ofcom decision to launch investigation into pay TV

British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC Press Release

20 March 2007
BSkyB response to Ofcom statement
In response to Ofcom’s announcement of a market investigation into the pay-TV industry, a Sky spokesman said: ‘The marketplace for entertainment and communications services is fiercely competitive and changing fast.
From the BBC to Google, BT to Apple and Vodafone to Virgin Media amongst [...]

Guardian’s MediaTalk – television companies ‘not really capable of regulating themselves’

I have been listening to the Guardian Unlimited’s MediaTalk show, which provides an overview of the week’s media news and offers up some comment and analysis from members of the Guardian’s team. It’s reasonably entertaining so check it out – link here.
In this week’s session, Emily Bell makes some interesting points in regard to the [...]

Will Richard Hooper get the BBC Trust Chair?

It is always interesting to see where ex-Ofcom people end up. Richard Hooper, Ofcom’s highly capable former deputy Chairman went to head up business publishing house Informa. But he stood down earlier this week. The Times City Diary picked it up yesterday -
“Richard Hooper, chairman of Informa, which has a lucrative business providing commercial information [...]

Number 10 e-petition lobbies against Ofcom’s ‘intervention’ in the Sky-Virgin Media content dispute

An e-petition aimed at lobbying Number 10 to have Ofcom remove requirements on Sky to provide its television content to competitors on ‘fair and reasonable’ terms has appeared on the Number 10 website. Not sure that the petition creator has the best grasp of competition law and what it aims to achieve.
Here is the slightly [...]

Darling asks Ofcom to investigate BSkyB-ITV deal under Enterprise Act

In accordance with Section 44A of the Enterprise Act, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, has today asked Ofcom to conduct an initial investigation into British Sky Broadcasting Group’s acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV plc.
This is the first time a special intervention notice has been issued by the DTI since [...]

BBC sets aside £350 million to develop social networking sites

The MediaGuardian is reporting that -
“…the BBC has set up a £350m war chest for expansion into social networking on the internet and international acquisitions.
The BBC is to increase its presence in the social networking world with a series of new and improved websites, based around its favourite brands such as the car programme [...]