The Competition and Markets Authority approves the merger of News UK and DMG Media’s printing operations, aiming to improve efficiency in the face of declining newspaper sales.
News UK and DMG Media, the publishers behind The Sun and Daily Mail, have been approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to merge their printing operations. This decision, announced in October and confirmed to proceed without further in-depth CMA scrutiny, is aimed at bolstering the efficiency of print operations in response to declining sales within the industry. The joint venture, focusing exclusively on the printing aspect and not affecting media, editorial, or commercial collaborations between the publishers, intends to foster a sustainable business model for national newspaper printing in the UK.
Scheduled to start in early June, the new business will incorporate senior leadership from both News UK’s Newsprinters and DMG Media, marking a significant move towards operational consolidation. The merger will result in the closure of DMG Media’s Thurrock and Dinnington sites, while maintaining Newsprinters’ facilities in Broxbourne, Knowsley, and Eurocentral.
Executives from both companies have expressed positivity about the venture’s impact on the industry. David Dinsmore from News UK and James Welsh from DMG Media highlighted the collaborative effort as a key step in securing print media’s future in the UK, ensuring the continued availability of newspapers to readers while navigating the challenges of a changing media landscape.
