Fairfax Media and NZME fight merger rejection with High Court appeal

Fairfax Media and NZME Limited will file an appeal in the High Court of New Zealand in a bid to overturn the New Zealand Commerce Commission’s decision to block the merger of the two companies.

The watchdog argued Fairfax NZ and NZME would control 90% of NZ’s print media market if the merged – which could substantially lessen competition in the market – however the two media companies have hit back arguing the NZCC failed to take into account the variety of other new and traditional media platforms available to audiences, including Bauer Media (NZ), syndicated news content, bloggers, businesses, and politicians and government entities.