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Help stop Rupert Murdoch's power play
Rupert Murdoch, who owns News Corporation, is trying to take 100% control of BSkyB. Tell Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt that this isn't in the public interest!
In the UK, News Corporation already owns the Times, the Sun, the Sunday Times and the News of the World, adding up to 37% of newspaper circulation. The acquisition of BSkyB would give him even more control over the media. Even though UK regulators are concerned that this merger would harm the public interest, Jeremy Hunt has said he'll allow News Corporation to move forward with its bid after a consultation period that ends Monday. With the proposed merger all but given the go ahead, we need your help to stand between Rupert Murdoch and his long-desired media dominance in the UK.
Sign now to send a letter to Jeremy Hunt urging him to protect the public interest in this matter.
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Letter to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing to register my opposition to the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation.
I remain unconvinced that the undertakings in lieu offered by News Corporation satisfactorily “remedy, mitigate or prevent the public interest concerns in relation to media plurality” raised by this merger. While News Corp may have committed to the independence of Sky News from BSkyB, there are not sufficient checks and balances to ensure that News Corp strictly adheres to the undertakings.
Moreover, I am concerned about News Corporation’s broadcasts in the US and the potential for these to be replicated or promoted in the UK. The undertakings do not prevent Murdoch or News Corp from building the profile of Fox News in the UK. There is also nothing in them to clearly prevent Murdoch from creating a new news channel along the lines of Fox News, which allows its hosts to practice damaging, irresponsible journalism. Murdoch has in the past professed a desire in the past to ‘make Sky News more like Fox News’ and I am concerned that the undertakings do not go far enough to prevent the ‘Foxification’ of the UK’s news agenda. Another Murdoch news channel would neither increase plurality nor protect the public interest.
With all this in mind, I urge you to consider giving more time to this matter further by either:
Pursuing a full investigation by the Competition Commission to allow for proper scrutiny and public protection.
or
At the very least, insisting that News Corp promise new undertakings for consideration by the UK public which address these issues and truly protect the public interest concerns raised in Ofcom’s report.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Yours Sincerely,
