نظمت بريطانيا هيئات الإعلام Ofcom، ووجدت أن محاولة كونسورتيوم مدعوم من أبوظبي شراء التليجراف قد لا يكون في المصلحة العامة، مشيرة إلى سجل الإمارات في حرية الصحافة و‘دوافع واضحة’ للدولة للتأثير على تغطية الصحيفة. ونشرت النتائج إلى جانب Autoridad de Competencia y Mercados (CMA)، examined Red Bird IMI's proposed acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group لأكثر من عامين después de que los ministros bloquearan el trato. La joint venture entre Red Bird Capital y el inversor mediático Abu Dhabi IMI raised concerns due to its links to the UAE. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, نائب رئيس الإمارات، owns IMI and Manchester City. Ofcom concluded there was 'a clear incentive for any state, including the UAE, to use an influential UK newspaper to encourage positive coverage of UAE government commercial interests', noting a 'significant overlap in personnel' between IMI and the UAE government. The report highlighted concerns that IMI could influence the Telegraph's editorial line against the public interest, pointing to a 'culture of restricting free expression' in the UAE. IMI rejected the findings, accusing Ofcom of judging the firm based on its origin rather than conduct. The former Conservative government subsequently banned foreign state ownership of UK newspapers in 2024, effectively blocking the £575mn deal. The Telegraph was later acquired by German media group Axel Springer.
Ofcom and the CMA reported concerns about Red Bird IMI gaining control of the Telegraph on account of its links to the UAE. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, نائب رئيس الإمارات، owns IMI and Manchester City. In a partially redacted report, Ofcom concluded that there was 'a clear incentive for any state, including the UAE, to use an influential UK newspaper to encourage positive coverage of UAE government commercial interests', which it noted were extensive in Britain.
IMI accused the media watchdog of 'conflating the commercial interests of a private company with the conduct of a sovereign state', stating that Ofcom gave no weight to its legally binding undertakings, including a guarantee never to influence editorial decisions and an independent Editorial Trust with veto power over the Editor-in-Chief appointment.
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