Clare Curran.
MP for Dunedin South
Broadcasting Spokesperson

MEDIA STATEMENT

8 November 2016

ComCom merger decline a win for media diversity

Labour welcomes the Commerce Commission’s draft decision to decline the merger of NZME and Fairfax as a clear sign that diversity in New Zealand’s media content is critically important, says Labour’s Broadcasting spokesperson Clare Curran.

“We agree with the Commission that the removal of competitive tension between our two largest newspaper networks and websites would lead to a reduction in the quantity and quality of New Zealand news content both online and in print, which would flow on effects to both television and radio.

“We acknowledge the challenges facing the print media but again agree that the downside of concentration of media ownership of 90% of the print media by one entity outweighs other matters.
“Labour believes media diversity is essential to preserve news quality in the public interest and that the NZME/Fairfax merger would have substantially reduced competition and debased public debate in New Zealand.

“Labour remains concerned about the impact of the proposed Sky/Vodafone merger and agrees with the Commerce Commission’s recent letter to the merger parties that it is not satisfied that the merger won’t substantially lessen competition in the telecommunications and pay TV services markets,” says Clare Curran.

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