It’s going to be a rougher ride than first thought for Kerry Stokes’ attempt to snaffle a monopoly on print media in Perth by getting his 41%-owned Seven West Media to help out the struggling Murdoch family at News Corp by buying their sliding Sunday Times and the Perth Now news website.
The competition regulator, the ACCC revealed this morning that it was looking for feedback from advertisers and others on the proposal. But the tone from the commission’s statement — and the associated issues paper — should give Stokes and News some heart though.
The proposed buy would combine the two highest-circulating Western Australian print newspapers and related online news sites. The ACCC says it is investigating the impact this would have on two distinct groups: readers and advertisers.
The ACCC wants further submissions from industry participants in response to the Statement of Issues by August 18 and has promised a decision by September 15.
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