The Church of England has today added its voice to those calling for News Corporation not to be permitted to buy the remaining shares in broadcaster BSkyB.

In a submission to media regulator Ofcom's consultation on the proposed purchase, the Church's lead spokesman on media issues, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, says:

"This inquiry is welcome and timely because the vitality and plurality of the media, especially in combination with a strong public service remit, is essential to the maintenance of a well-informed democracy. There is an ongoing need for strong and effective regulation of cross-media ownership and media plurality. In Lord Puttnam's words, the "overriding interest of the citizen" demands that there should be no diminution in the range of views and voices that can hold government and other interests to account. It is important to preserve a healthy media environment in which many different and diverse organisations, including public service broadcasters, can flourish.

"Our concerns are not about the nature of News Corporation: indeed, we would make these comments whichever commercial organisation might find itself in a potentially dominant market position.

"A News Corporation in full control of BSkyB would combine one of the three significant suppliers of TV news (BBC, ITN and BSkyB), one of the two suppliers of radio news (BBC, BSkyB) and the group with the biggest market share of national press in the UK. It would dominate both the television and newspaper landscape.

"Many critics of the bid have highlighted the potential dangers to the integrity of Sky News. Sky News has won a well-deserved reputation for innovation and the quality of its journalism. Though BSkyB is not a public service broadcaster, Sky News contributes to public service purposes in the broadest sense. Even though its market share is small it has, for example, often been an influential voice in political debate. If BSkyB comes under the full control of News Corporation, however, the fear is that even though Sky News would still have to abide by requirements for due impartiality, there would always be the potential for the exercise of subtle editorial influence, not least in the process of selecting which news items are to be covered and which left out.

"In the case, therefore, that the bid is allowed, the public have a right to expect, at the very minimum, an assurance that the independence and editorial integrity of Sky News will be preserved. Even if the News Corporation bid is not allowed, it would be a positive commitment to media plurality if BSkyB were to take the opportunity to reassert its existing commitment to the editorial independence of Sky News and its continuing contribution to public service purposes."

Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch

The Bishop of Manchester

Lead spokesman on media issues

Church of England