Media companies move to appeal Court's merger block

Monday, 5 February 2018, 11:19 am
Article: RNZ

Media companies move to appeal Court's merger block

Media companies Stuff and NZME are seeking leave to appeal the decision by the High Court to reject the merger they had proposed.

Stuff and NZME are seeking leave to appeal the High Court decision blocking their merger. Photo: RNZ

NZME and Stuff, which until Thursday was called Fairfax NZ, say they will ask the Court of Appeal to let them appeal a High Court decision.

In December, the High Court upheld the Commerce Commission's decision to refuse the merger because of their dominance in key media markets and loss of the diversity of media voices.

Between them the two groups publish most of the country's daily and weekend newspapers, and own a major commercial radio network and two leading news websites.

The companies say they have now been through the full High Court judgement and it shows the Commission underestimated the monetary benefits to the public of the merger.

They say they still believe the competition watchdog was wrong in fact and law to turn down the merger.

They say if allowed to appeal they will focus on the issue of plurality.

© Scoop Media

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