Media24-Novus deal 'accelerates death of SA's print news product', says Anton Harber
Stephen Grootes talks to Anton Harber about the news that Novus Holdings is going ahead with the acquisition of three Media24 divisions.
Naspers Media24 Building / Wikimedia Commons: Discott
The printing group Novus Holdings has confirmed that its deal to acquire three divisions of Media24 is going ahead.
Novus said in a statement that the necessary approvals, including from the Competition Commission, have now been received for the acquisition worth around R43 million.
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The divisions being acquired are Media24's distributions business, On the Dot; the community newspaper portfolio; as well as football-focused Soccer Laduma and Kick Off, according to News24.
The deal will also entail closing the print editions of long-running local newspapers like Rapport, Beeld and City Press.
Stephen Grootes gets comment from Anton Harber, executive director of the Campaign for Free Expression.
Harber describes the development as 'a critical moment in the history of our print media'.
If Media24 had other options, they would have been looking at them, he says.
"The effect of this I think is to accelerate the shrinking of our media and the death of our print news product, because it's likely to have run-on effects for other print products as well."
Anton Harber, Executive Director - Campaign for Free Expression
"While there seems to be an attempt to move their readers online, I would be surprised if these titles weren't over time absorbed into the News24 fold and not have too much currency as separate titles."
Anton Harber, Executive Director - Campaign for Free Expression
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