Statement published 17 November 2021
The ways in which consumers and citizens interact with news media have changed dramatically in recent years. New technology has enabled people to engage with news in previously unforeseeable ways and has challenged the business models of traditional news media organisations. Against this backdrop, media plurality remains the cornerstone of a well-functioning democratic society.
Ofcom has a statutory duty to secure and maintain a sufficient plurality of providers of different TV and radio services. We also have a duty to review the operation of the media ownership rules listed under section 391 of the Communications Act 2003, every three years. This statement sets out our recommendations following our most recent review of those rules.
Alongside the rules review, in June 2021, we launched a programme of work – starting with a call for evidence – to understand what impact changes in the market for news might mean for media plurality, looking beyond the existing media ownership rules.
In this statement, we set out a summary of the responses received, our reflections on those responses and our next steps.
