Date: 13th December 2000

British TV Deregulation Called "Revolutionary"


Deregulation proposals presented by the British government on Tuesday could clear the way for the consolidation of all of the ITV broadcasting companies into a single media giant. A government White Paper proposed that a regulation barring any ITV company from controlling more than 15 percent of the total audience be dropped -- something that could result in a "communications revolution," the document said. However, one government minister observed that any new merger would still come under the scrutiny of the Competition Commission. Another government proposal calls for a single super watchdog agency to oversee the commercial operations of TV, radio and Internet companies, combining nine regulators that do so today into a new Office of Communications (OFCOM).

Source: Studio Briefing