Commentary on Sections Part 5: Competition in Communications Markets Chapter 2: Media mergers Section 388: Alterations to newspaper panel of Competition Commission
848.This section amends the definition of “newspaper merger reference” in paragraph 1 of Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998. Schedule 7 to that Act makes provision about the Competition Commission and includes provisions on the appointment of newspaper panel members to the group selected to carry out an inquiry following a reference. The effect of this amendment is that the provisions on the appointment of newspaper panel members to any constituted group will only apply where a merger reference is made specifying a newspaper public interest consideration.