(Photo: ACCC)
December 8, 2016
The South Burnett Times is expected to become a Murdoch publication following a decision announced on Thursday by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The ACCC said it would not oppose the proposed acquisition by News Corporation of Australian Regional Media from APN News and Media.
Australian Regional Media (ARM) publishes a large number of mostly regional publications in Queensland and northern NSW, including the South Burnett Times and the Central & North Burnett Times.
The ACCC invited feedback from readers and advertisers about the proposed sale in October.
The ACCC’s concern was how ARM’s paid regional newspapers and News Corp’s The Courier Mail would compete for readers, and the extent of competition between overlapping News Corp and ARM community newspapers in south-east Queensland.
“The ACCC reviewed the acquisition very closely, as News and ARM are the two largest newspaper publishers in Queensland,” ACCC chairman Ros Sims said.
“However, feedback from readers raised very few concerns and suggested that there is not close competition between the paid daily Queensland papers published by News and ARM.
“ARM’s paid daily regional newspapers focus mostly on regional and local news and there is limited overlap with The Courier Mail which focuses on greater-Brisbane, State, and national news.
“Furthermore, readers are increasingly reading online sources of news, where there are alternatives to News and ARM.”
The ACCC also contacted over 600 small businesses and advertising agencies which advertise in News and ARM publications in Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
“The ACCC was pro-active in contacting advertisers and in raising awareness of the transaction with consumers and seeking comments from them,” Mr Sims said.
In relation to local community newspapers, the ACCC investigated competition between News and ARM in Caboolture/Bribie Island, south-west Brisbane, Brisbane northern bayside, Logan, Tweed Heads, and the southern Gold Coast. The competitive overlap between News and ARM in these areas relates to papers that are generally weekly, delivered for free, and have a strong local focus.
“This transaction will mean that readers in those areas who still value a community newspaper format are likely to face reduced choice. However, the ACCC concluded that, overall, a sufficient range of local news choices and advertising options would remain available in these areas, with Fairfax and independent local newspapers in some local areas, competing online options, as well as local radio news,” Mr Sims said.
“Although some concerns were raised by small businesses and ad agencies in these local areas, most acknowledged that print advertising was of declining importance and identified other advertising options if News attempted to increase rates.
“Declining readership and reduced advertising revenues for hard-copy publications were important factors in the ACCC’s assessment, as it was with the investigation of Seven West Media’s acquisition of The Sunday Times. Advertisers and readers are increasingly turning to other sources of news and advertising opportunities, particularly digital, which is having a significant impact on the print industry.”
APN’s radio and outdoor assets are not part of the proposed acquisition.
The sale remains subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
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“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.”
― Mark Twain
SouthBurnett.com.au has become even more valuable and important in our community after this announcement. A free press underpins democracy.
“The South Burnett Times is expected to become a Murdoch publication following a decision announced on Thursday by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.”