A PYMNTS Company

New Zealand: Commerce Commission sinks Fairfax/NZME media merger

By  |  May 2, 2017

Media companies Fairfax New Zealand and NZME can’t merge, the Commerce Commission has ruled.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The ruling follows a year of lobbying and speculation concerning some of the country’s largest media brands, including Stuff and the NZ Herald.

    The Commission acknowledged that NZME and Fairfax “face a challenging commercial environment as they seek to transition from their traditional print products to a sustainable online model” but disagreed with some of the scenarios the media companies suggested about their respective futures without the merger.

    “This merger would concentrate media ownership and influence to an unprecedented extent for a well-established modern liberal democracy. The news audience reach that the applicants have provide the merged entity with the scope to control a large share of the news consumed by a majority of New Zealanders.” Chairman Mark Berry said.

    Full Content: New Zealand Herald

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.