AOP: BBC local video plans are 'unfair competition' for regional media, says Sly Bailey

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is 'unfair competition' to regional publishers, Sly Bailey, Trinity Mirror's CEO, has said.

Speaking at the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) Digital Publishing Summit, Bailey criticised the proposals, which if approved by the BBC Trust would see £68 million invested in a network of websites covering 60 local news regions over five years.

The use of public money, through the BBC's licence fee, to fund the project and the corporation's 'unparalleled commercial machine' is a threat to plurality in regional media, she added.

"They [the BBC] would like us to believe that this is nothing more than a natural enhancement to an existing service," said Bailey.

"This is a threat to the development and diversity of local media sector online and potentially to its print cousins. This is about real business, real jobs and real people."

'Fair competition' between publishers online is welcomed by the group, as this drives digital innovation, she added.

But despite 'investing heavily in the development of local digital services', regional media groups cannot compete with the 'destruction' of £68 million, said Bailey.

"We all love the BBC, but would we love it quite so much if it is the only thing we have?"