A ruling by the Office of Fair Trading on whether Northcliffe Media has been successful in its attempts to purchase an independent weekly newspaper has been delayed for the second time.
Last August HTFP reported that the regional newspaper publisher wanted to acquire the Nottingham and Long Eaton Topper – the only existing free weekly title in the city since the closure of Northcliffe’s Nottingham Recorder in June 2011.
An announcement on the decision was originally due to be made by the OFT in April but was then deferred until today.
It has now been postponed again and a spokesperson could not confirm a new date for the announcement, adding that the Government body could not give details about the reason for the delay.
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The master plan is now quite clear…
Purchase the Nottingham Topper, taking any possible opposition out of the picture.
This leaves the way clear to turn the Evening Post into an unapposed weekly – a win, win situation for Northcliffe.
To my way of thinking, this is a… errrrr… monopoly!
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No more a monopoly than the Notts Post had before the topper was launched.
The only way local press will survive in print is by getting back to small Local print monopolies, what do you think allot of the recent closures have been about.
Mark my words, next step TM regionals and Northcliffe merger in jointly held company.
No Brainer
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