Radio Authority Puts KMG Acquisition To Test

The Radio Authority is inviting comments as part of the public interest test it is conducting into the Kent Messenger Group’s (KMG) acquisition of Medway FM Ltd, which owns Mercury 107.9 FM, a station broadcasting in the same area as some of the Kent Messenger Group newspapers.

The test is being conducted due to the broadcasting law which states that a company running a local newspaper cannot own a local radio service in the same area unless it is proved that the arrangement would not be against the public interest.

Comments are sought regarding whether the arrangement would lead to a reduction in plurality of ownership in the area concerned; whether there would be less diversity in the sources of information or sources of opinions available or expressed in the newspapers or on the radio; whether there would be economic benefits as a result of this deal and how the arrangements affect any aspects of the newspaper or radio markets in the area.

Late last year the Radio Authority approved another KMG deal which created a similar situation on the Kent coast following the acquisition of Dover’s Neptune radio (see Radio Authority Approves KM Radio Acquisition). Acquisitions in radio appear to be part of an ongoing process to strengthen the KMG’s position in the media landscape. The July to December ABC results for the regional press also showed that the Group’s Kent Messenger series is the largest by circulation (see ABC Regional Weeklies: July – December 2001).

Comments on the Medway FM case are to reach the assistant secretary- licensing by 26 April.

Kent Messenger: 01622 717880 www.kmonline.co.uk

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