Two media diversity specialists have been commissioned to produce a paper on the concentration of news in New Zealand.

COMMENT: The Commerce Commission indicating that it may decline the NZME and Fairfax merger is hardly what the leaders of either company would have wanted.

The decline comes after the Commerce Commission released a preliminary decision against the planned merger between NZME and Fairfax NZ.

The Commerce Commission draft decision rejecting a proposed NZME/Fairfax merger is "short-sighted", a media commentator says.

MediaWorks says a merged Fairfax/NZME news operation should have to sell one or other of the New Zealand Herald or Stuff websites.

The Overseas Investment Office has granted consent to the proposed merger of media companies NZME and Fairfax NZ.

Fairfax and NZME are seeking Commerce Commission authorisation to merge operations in New Zealand.

Media companies NZME and Fairfax NZ have released further details of their proposed merger to the NZX this morning.

The Commerce Commission has updated its timeframe on delivering its decision on the proposed merger of NZME and Fairfax.

A High Court judge will release his decision this afternoon on Sky TV's injunction against Fairfax's use of Olympic video.

Fairfax has questioned if Sky TV has the grounds to bring an injunction against it over the use of Olympic Games video.

Fairfax wants the dispute over its use of Sky TV's Rio Olympics footage to go to a full trial.

Sky TV tells the High Court Fairfax's use of Rio Olympics video clips online is "exploitation", as the broadcaster seeks an injunction.

Fairfax Media says it expects to hold a minority shareholding in the merged company planned with NZME.

Sky TV has gone to the High Court seeking an injunction against Fairfax Media over the use of Rio Olympics video.

Fairfax is looking to extend its business beyond content provision with a new venture to launch a fibre-only ISP.

NZME says nothing in merger submissions undermine key arguments in favour of its joining up with Fairfax.

He's worth just under a billion dollars, and he says NZ's overheated property market is exacerbating social divisions.

COMMENT: Everyone wants a new partner these days. NZME is eyeing up Fairfax while Vodafone woos Sky.

NZME will soon be listed on the NZX, after APN shareholders this morning approved a de-merger.

The Commerce Commission will look at whether there are separate digital and print media markets as part of its assessment of the proposed NZME-Fairfax merger.

NZME yesterday applied to the Commerce Commission for approval of a merger with its main rival in the business.

A merger between Fairfax's New Zealand operations and APN's NZME unit would have 11.7 per cent of New Zealand's digital advertising market.

Application to Commerce Commission to create New Zealand's biggest stand alone media company kicks off merger process.

NZME and Fairfax Media have filed an application to the Commerce Commission to create New Zealand's biggest standalone media company.

NZME and Fairfax NZ believe their planned merger will free up investment for high-quality journalism.

COMMENT: When the all-but-inevitable merger of media companies NZME and Fairfax was announced, journalistic reaction fell into two camps.

COMMENT: The proposed merger between NZME and Fairfax NZ is a further sign that media companies continue to look for viable business models.

COMMENT: NZME has "first mover" advantage when it comes to the shakeup of the New Zealand media industry.

Shares rallied at the start of trading on the ASX after APN successfully raised A$160 million through a rights issue.