Newspaper and magazine distribution

In September 2009, the OFT announced that it would not refer the newspaper and magazine distribution sector to the Competition Commission.

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Introduction

A key reason for this was that further market changes benefiting consumers could come about from industry parties self-assessing their distribution agreements following OFT competition guidance, and these could include changes to distribution arrangements following the recent tender round.

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Further information

See our press release on this announcement.

The OFT's decision is the outcome of a public consultation launched in October 2008, at the same time as the OFT issued two other related publications following a wide-ranging analysis of competition in newspaper and magazine distribution in the United Kingdom. These publications were:

• an opinion, providing guidance on the legality of newspaper and magazine distribution agreements, which indicated that arrangements for newspapers at the time may be better placed to benefit from competition law exemption than those for magazines, and 
• a recommendation, which was subsequently adopted by the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in April 2009, that wholesalers are released from the undertakings underpinning the National Newspapers Code of Practice. As a result of the Secretary of State's decision, the Code will cease to apply with effect from 20 October 2009.

See our press release on these announcements.

Date of opening: December 2006, request for a market investigation reference

Team Leader: Ed Smith (020 7211 8434, ed.smith@oft.gsi.gov.uk)

Project Director: Louis Christofides (020 7211 8935, louis.christofides@oft.gsi.gov.uk)

Senior Responsible Owner: Sonya Branch (020 7211 8707, sonya.branch@oft.gsi.gov.uk)

Case Reference: MPI – MR/1021

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