Revised Media Merger Guidelines: Introduction of a Simplified Procedure

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is planning an amendment of the current Guidelines on Media Mergers. This amendment is to reflect the introduction of a simplified notification procedure for certain media mergers.

The Simplified Media Merger Notification Procedure is intended to be used for the assessment of ‘non-Irish’ mergers. That is, mergers where the target of the transaction is not operating in the State and, thus, is unlikely to have an impact on the plurality of media in the State.

The revised Guidelines have been drafted to reflect the alternative process under the Simplified Procedure (including the criteria that need to be met for the Simplified Procedure to apply) in Section 3, and the application of the relevant criteria in Section 5.

In amending the Guidelines, a number of other technical changes have been made – including to reflect the changes to the department’s name, and the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán to replace the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

In line with Section 28L of the Competition Act 2002, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is consulting with stakeholders and inviting written comments in relation to the amended Guidelines and Simplified Media Merger Notification Procedure.

Submissions should be returned to mediamergers@tcagsm.gov.ie by close of business on Thursday, 14 March 2024.