The Competition Commission aims to publish the provisional report of its Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) in early 2025.

This follows an extension of the initial publication timeline, which was scheduled for late last year. The commission is taking additional time to ensure the provisional report meets the highest standards of accuracy, thoroughness and credibility.

The Competition Commission embarked on the MDPMI on October 17, 2023, to investigate whether certain market features on digital platforms that distribute news media content impede, distort or restrict competition, undermining the aims of the Competition Act, with material implications for the news media sector in South Africa.

Stakeholders participated in public hearings during March and July last year.

“The revised timeline reflects the inquiry’s dedication to addressing critical factors essential to the report’s quality, including further consultations with experts conducted to resolve emerging questions and address unresolved issues. These supplementary engagements were vital to ensuring the report’s accuracy and completeness, in a dynamic digital environment,” the commission explains.

“We remain mindful of stakeholders’ expectations for a credible and detailed document; this extension underscores our dedication to meeting those expectations.”

The commission further notes that a substantial number of submissions were received containing complex information on topics such as AdTech and artificial intelligence, each of which requires detailed analysis to ensure accuracy, and expert contributions required specialised scrutiny to ensure accurate interpretation in the report.

“The high level of technical detail in these submissions necessitated additional time for comprehensive evaluation.”

The provisional report must also be subjected to internal Competition Commission review processes and decisions, which have also impacted the original timeline.

The provisional report, which includes initial findings, remedies and recommendations, will allow for six weeks of stakeholder comments.

“The MDPMI team is committed to maintaining transparency as it works towards the completion of the provisional report. Updates on our progress will be shared to keep all stakeholders informed,” the commission concludes.