Ofcom seeks media ownership reviews every four years
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom is recommending that media ownership should be assessed every four to five years.
According to media website, Press Gazette, the review would cover all news and current affairs - including the BBC, as well as online media.
This is designed to check that a single media owner or outlet has not become too powerful. However, Ofcom has stopped short of recommending a specific cap on newspaper or media ownership.
The proposals are contained in a report, submitted to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, prompted by News Corp's failed bid to take over BSkyB.
The regulator says: “Setting absolute limits leaves no room to take account of the broader context, and this creates a risk that it is not possible to address issues of commercial sustainability and innovation in an appropriate manner.
"On balance, we do not believe introducing a prohibition on share to be advisable currently."