ACS

Main menu

Industry Analysis

OFT

A summary of three publications issued by the OFT analysing newspaper and magazine distribution in the UK October 2008

 

1. Competition Law Guidance (the Opinion)
2. National Newspaper Code of Practice
3. Consultation on proposal not to refer to the Industry Competition Commission
 

  OFT Full Market Update

 

Tomorrows News

ANR has published a groundbreaking report that aims to help retailers of all kinds come to terms with changes in the news industry.

The report, entitled “Tomorrow’s NEWS” explains:

  • the structure of the news & magazine supply chain;
  • the potential scenarios arising from the OFT’s current deliberations on the news industry; and
  • the options available for retailers to develop their news business in the light of possible changes.

ANR Managing Director John Lennon said: “Plenty has been said about the future of news industry and the machinations of the OFT’s investigations. But until now practical advice and support for retailers to develop their business under a different supply chain has been lacking. Tomorrow’s NEWS changes all that. It takes the emotion out of the debate and looks at how retailers can respond to potential changes. Not surprisingly, the future of a new supply chain for these products does not bear any resemblance to that portrayed by scaremongers who claim that news retailers will be damaged by these changes. Instead, the report shows that retailer choice of news supplier would bring significant opportunities for all professional retailers.

“We wrote this report because research of independent retailers showed that two-thirds of independent stores want more choice in their supply of newspapers and magazines, and we want to help them to understand what this choice would mean for them. Furthermore, the same research showed that most independent retailers feel they had less control over the news category than others in their store, and we need to explain how they can gain and exercise control over this category.”

John Lennon also used the launch of Tomorrow’s NEWS to reveal more research findings. He said: “Only 35% of retailers are aware of the Industry Standards Service Agreement (ISSA), while only 17% were aware of the Joint Industry Group (JIG), only 3% more than the recognition of an entirely fictitious body included in the survey. Self-regulation in the news industry has not permeated the consciousness of independent retailers, and we should no longer kid ourselves that it is effective in protecting and supporting retailers.”

  Tomorrows NEWS