The government today cleared the way for regional press groups to own radio and TV stations in the same area – but only if their local newspaper market share is below 50pc.

Media watchdog Ofcom today published draft proposals on cross-media ownership as promised in last month’s Digital Britain report.

It acknowledges that local media companies face “acute” pressure and says cross-media mergers would be one way they could respond to that pressure.

But Ofcom wants to retain a restriction on any one company simultaneously owning a radio and ITV station as well as more than 50pc of the local newspaper market.

“Our recommendations are… to liberalise the local cross-media ownership rules so that the only restriction is on ownership of all three of: local newspapers with 50pc plus local market share, a local radio station, and a regional Channel 3 licence,” says today’s review.

“This liberalisation will increase the flexibility of local media to respond to market pressures. Consumers still rely on television, radio and press for news, so going further to complete removal of the rules could reduce protections for plurality.”

The media watchdog says that, if adopted, the recommendations “could help maintain local content while protecting a choice of services and viewpoints at a local level.”

“Current trends are for newspapers to merge with each other and for radio groups to do the same. But in future, cross-media ownership in local areas could be one further way for the media sector to respond to these challenges.”

A spokesman for leading regional publisher Trinity Mirror said: “We welcome any relaxation of media ownership regulations which reflects the media world we now live in.”

Ofcom is not proposing any change to the rules barring national newspaper owners from owning ITV stations.