Press release

The Media Ownership Authority will not intervene against Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad AS’ acquisitions of ownership interest in Lierposten and Sande Avis. The Authority has decided that the acquisition of ownership interest in Lierposten is not contrary to the Act on Media Ownership. In the case dealing with the acquisition of Sande Avis, the Media Ownership Authority considers that an intervention may lead to negative consequences for Sande Avis.

Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad AS, owned by Orkla, bought in January 1999 a substantial part of the shares in the two local newspapers. These two newspapers are being published in neighbouring communities of Drammen. Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad is the most widely spread newspaper in both communities. Orkla and other Orkla-controlled newspapers own the local TV-stations in the area. The newspaper Fremtiden, the only newspaper in the area that is not owned by Orkla, also has a certain circulation in Drammen and in the neighbouring communities where Lierposten and Sande Avis are published.

Lierposten

Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad AS bought in January 1999 48 percent of the shares in Lierposten, with an option to buy the rest. Lierposten is a weekly newspaper with a circulation of 2 413 copies (1998) in Lier municipal district.

Lierposten has financial problems, and there is a possibility that the newspaper will seize to exist if the acquisition by Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad AS is denied. There are no alternative buyers, and the Authority has concluded that the acquisition is not contrary to the purpose set out in section 1 of the Act on Media Ownership.

Sande Avis

Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad bought in January 1999 all shares in Sande Avis. Sande Avis is a weekly newspaper with a circulation of 1 585 copies (1998) in Sande municipal district.

The Media Ownership Authority has under considerable doubt concluded that Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad AS and Orkla have a significant ownership position in Sande. Moreover, the Authority considers that an intervention against the acquisition may lead to problems for the newspaper, even if there probably are alternative buyers. Based on the various elements in the case, the Authority has concluded not to intervene against the acquisition, even though the conditions for an intervention are fulfilled.

Both decisions are found under http://www.eierskapstilsynet.no. Copies will also be forwarded on request.

Press contact: Director General Sigve Gramstad, tel. +47 22 47 68 80.

E-mail: sg@eierskapstilsynet.no