The Media Reform Coalition cautiously welcomes the Culture Secretary’s statement agreeing with the main finding of the Fox/Sky merger review: that the deal poses a serious risk to the public interest on plurality grounds. We are disappointed that neither he nor the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have expressed similar concerns in regard to Fox’s commitment to … [Read more...]
Sign the letter to the Culture Secretary: Stop Murdoch’s Sky Takeover
You can sign here Dear The Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP, We understand the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has delivered its final report to you on whether Rupert Murdoch-owned 21st Century Fox should be allowed to buy the 61% of Sky it does not already own. As you will know, in its interim report, the CMA found that the 21st Century Fox takeover of Sky would give … [Read more...]
MRC responds to Fox
The Media Reform Coalition have today submitted a comprehensive response to criticisms of our evidence and arguments made by 21st Century Fox. The submission includes a point by point rebuttal of these critiques and reveals deep flaws and serious inaccuracies in their analysis. As we approach the final stretch of the merger review, our submission draws attention to the … [Read more...]
Fox/Sky takeover: archive of civil society submissions
MRC is happy to host an archive of some of the submissions and reports that have been prepared in relation to the proposed takeover of Sky by 21st Century Fox. Avaaz, Submission to the CMA consultation on its provisional findings regarding proposed acquisition of Sky by 21CF, February 2018 Media Reform Coalition, Response to notice of possible remedies, February … [Read more...]
Consolidating Control: the Fox/Sky merger and plurality in the UK
The announcement by 21st Century Fox of its intention to buy out Sky Plc has regenerated concerns about media plurality and concentration in the UK. A new report produced by the Media Reform Coalition in conjunction with Avaaz, argues that, under the current legislative framework, there is an unprecedented case for intervention on plurality grounds and that the competition … [Read more...]
Murdoch/Sky – NOT in the public interest
Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox has now confirmed its agreement to buy the remainder of Sky, Britain’s largest broadcaster. This takeover will unambiguously strengthen Murdoch’s dominant voice in the British media at a time when we desperately need more diverse sources of news and entertaiment. There appears to be a growing chorus arguing that the situation today … [Read more...]
STOP MURDOCH
His first attempt to buy out Britain's monopoly satellite broadcasting platform in 2011 was doomed by the unraveling phone hacking scandal. Now Murdoch is trying once again to consolidate his grip on the UK media in a move on Sky that was announced late on a Friday afternoon, pre-Christmas, and post Parliamentary recess. David Yelland, former editor of the Sun, told Channel 4 … [Read more...]