Government Orders Investigation Into DMGT’s £500m Telegraph Takeover

The UK government has launched a formal investigation into the proposed £500 million acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group by Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), citing concerns over media plurality and competition.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed that the deal has been referred for review on public interest grounds. She said the move was necessary to assess whether the takeover could reduce the diversity of viewpoints available within the British news landscape.

Under the process, the Competition and Markets Authority will examine potential competition issues, while Ofcom will evaluate the impact on media plurality and the broader public interest. Both regulators have been asked to report back to the government by 10 June.

DMGT, the parent company of the Daily Mail, Metro, the i Paper and New Scientist, agreed in November to purchase the Telegraph after a prolonged period of uncertainty over its ownership. The Telegraph Media Group was put up for sale in 2023 following mounting debts linked to its former owners, the Barclay family.

In a statement, DMGT said it would cooperate fully with regulators and remained confident the transaction would proceed. The company described the proposed acquisition as an opportunity to provide long-term stability for the Telegraph and to strengthen its position in a fast-evolving media environment. It also pledged to invest in the title’s journalism, maintain its editorial identity and support international growth, particularly in the United States.

Nandy said the intervention was driven by the need to ensure a sufficient range of voices across UK news markets and to prevent excessive concentration of media ownership. Safeguarding a diversity of perspectives, she said, is essential to serving different audiences nationwide.

The government’s move marks the latest development in a turbulent sale process. Previous attempts to secure a buyer have collapsed, including a bid backed by investors linked to Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, which drew political opposition over concerns about foreign state involvement in a major British newspaper group.

The outcome of the regulatory review will determine whether the deal can proceed as planned or faces further conditions – or potentially, rejection.