The consolidation of local free-to-air television stations under the ownership of Media Prima Bhd has stoked concerns among media activists.

They are worried that it will reduce the diversity of news available in this country.

Yesterday, Media Prima, a company believed to be linked to Umno, completed its 100 percent acquisition of the ntv7 Group. This also gave it control of the defunct WaFM radio station under the group

Media Prima also controls private television stations TV3, 8TV and the defunct Channel 9, which is expected to resume operations early next year.

"Media consolidation is a worrying development as it reduces the diversity of news...It's very unhealthy if the media is owned by just a few giant companies," said media watchdog Aliran's Charter2000 joint-coordinator Anil Netto.

Media Prima's tentacles also stretch into the newspaper industry, with a 43 percent stake in New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, which publishes the English language dailies New Straits Times and The Malay Mail as well as the vernacular Berita Harian and Harian Metro dailies.

Media Prima's group managing director and chief executive officer Abdul Rahman Ahmad said the company will separate the brand name of ntv7 and has 'no major plans' to change its editorial policy.

No difference

However, Anil was not convinced.

"I don't see any radical differences between these television stations (ntv7 and TV3)," he said when contacted.

He said when Charter2000 monitored TV3's reports during the last general election, it discovered that the reports were one-sided.

"It will be a challenge for ntv7 to retain the independence in its news room by not following (its sister company) TV3," he added.

Anil also dismissed the notion that only market forces determined the ownership of media companies.

"You know it is very difficult for any independent individual to get a licence if they want to start a station. So this is not only market forces," he said.

Another local media watchdog, the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami), also expressed concern over the recent developments.

Its exco member Por Heong Hong said freedom of press and freedom of expression will be jeopardised.

"The marginalised groups will hardly get a space to express their views as they are not the targeted market of the commercialised television stations," she added.