IMI rejects Ofcom report that found RedBird IMI's Telegraph bid risked press freedom
Ofcom and CMA reports on the abandoned RedBird IMI bid for The Telegraph were published on 16 October. Ofcom said the deal may have operated against the public interest. Abu Dhabi's IMI rejected the Ofcom report's methodology and conclusions.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Reports by the media regulator Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the failed RedBird IMI takeover of The Telegraph were published on Friday 16 October, after a wait of about two and a half years. Evening StandardN “were published on Friday following a two-and-a-half year wait for their release.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Ofcom report was released by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. The NationalN “which has been released by the UK's Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1Ofcom concluded that the deal may "operate against the public interest" in relation to "free expression of opinion in newspapers", and raised concerns that it might not sufficiently meet the "need for accurate presentation of news in newspapers". The report has a number of redactions. Evening StandardN “Ofcom concluded that the takeover deal may “operate against the public interest” in relation to “free expression of opinion in newspapers”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The reports pointed to concerns over ownership by RedBird IMI because of its close links with the United Arab Emirates. RedBird IMI is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments (IMI), an investment fund owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE vice president and owner of Manchester City. Evening StandardN “Redbird IMI is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi’s International Media Investments (IMI)” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1IMI rejected the Ofcom report, criticising its "methodology, reasoning and conclusions which were reached before the evidence was examined". It said Ofcom "failed" to assess a commercial media company and used "an arbitrary and biased set of assumptions, conflating the commercial interests of a private company with the conduct of a sovereign state". The NationalN “criticising its “methodology, reasoning and conclusions which were reached before the evidence was examined””“an arbitrary and biased set of assumptions, conflating the commercial interests of a private company with the conduct of a sovereign state” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1IMI pointed to a line in the report saying it was "not necessary to rely on information about the reported past behaviour of IMI associated businesses", and said this showed Ofcom ignored its track record. It also said Ofcom gave no weight to its legally binding undertakings not to influence The Telegraph's editorial decisions, including an Independent Editorial Trust with a veto over the editor-in-chief's appointment and removal, and made no finding of editorial interference. IMI added that Ofcom accepted a viable commercial rationale for the bid. The NationalN “not necessary to rely on information about the reported past behaviour of IMI associated businesses”“Ofcom’s report made no findings of editorial interference against the company.” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 1Nick Candy, treasurer of the Reform Party, told The National that the government's handling of the deal was "a total disaster" and that revisiting a two-year-old report undermines investor confidence. The National is owned by IMI. The NationalN “The Government's handling of the RedBird IMI deal was a total disaster and a missed opportunity for British business”“IMI’s media assets include The National and Sky News Arabia.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1The Ofcom review was an initial one and was halted after the deal ended, according to The National, which said the government chose to publish the report without the full process being completed. The NationalN “The report was part of an initial review by Ofcom but that was halted after Redbird IMI sold the newspaper group at a profit.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1RedBird IMI abandoned its proposed takeover of The Telegraph and The Spectator in 2024 after the government banned foreign states from owning British newspapers and news magazines. The reports had been written for then Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer. German media group Axel Springer later bought The Telegraph, reported by the Evening Standard at £575 million. Evening StandardN “backed out of its proposed takeover of the Telegraph and the Spectator magazine in 2024 after the Government banned foreign states from owning British newspapers”“German media giant Axel Springer bought the Telegraph for £575 million earlier this year” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The Evening Standard said the publication comes amid a tense UK–UAE diplomatic backdrop, after Manchester City's owners were found guilty of breaking Premier League spending rules, and that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has faced scrutiny over ties to the club's owners as Greater Manchester mayor. Evening StandardN “The publication of the report comes amid a tense diplomatic backdrop between the UK and UAE” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets are labelled centre but differ in angle. The National (Abu Dhabi, IMI-owned) leads with IMI's rebuttal; the Evening Standard leads with Ofcom's finding on press freedom.
- Emphasis
- The National: IMI's criticisms, its editorial-independence undertakings and a supportive quote from Nick Candy. Evening Standard: Ofcom's public-interest concerns, UAE ownership links and the diplomatic backdrop.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The National does not quote Ofcom's conclusions on free expression or accurate presentation of news. The Evening Standard carries no IMI response and does not mention that The National is part of IMI's media assets.
- Charged language
- “astonishing admission”“total disaster”“arbitrary and biased set of assumptions”
- For example
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“In an astonishing admission written into the report itself” — The National
“would have risked undermining “free expression” in the press” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Ofcom's report on the RedBird IMI bid for The Telegraph was published on 16 October 2026.
- The bid collapsed and The Telegraph was later bought by Axel Springer.
- RedBird IMI is backed by Abu Dhabi's IMI.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Ofcom's conclusions were sound
- Centre
- The National (reporting IMI): the report's methodology was flawed, conclusions were reached before the evidence was examined, and there were no findings of editorial interference. Evening Standard: Ofcom found the deal may operate against the public interest on free expression and accurate news.
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How the deal ended
- Centre
- The National: RedBird IMI sold the group at a profit and the Ofcom review was halted. Evening Standard: RedBird IMI backed out in 2024 after the government banned foreign states from owning British newspapers, and Axel Springer later bought it.
International Media Investments organisation
Rejects the Ofcom report as biased and flawed, saying it ignored IMI's track record and binding editorial undertakings and judged the bid on origin, not conduct. It denies any interference in editorial independence.
“It was judged on its origin and not its conduct.” — The National
“IMI rejects any suggestion that it has ever interfered, or would ever interfere, in the editorial independence of its media outlets.” — The National
Ofcom organisation
Found that the takeover may operate against the public interest on free expression of opinion and may not sufficiently meet the need for accurate presentation of news.
“may “operate against the public interest” in relation to “free expression of opinion in newspapers”” — Evening Standard
Lisa Nandy person
As Culture Secretary, released the Ofcom report; The National says the government published it without the full process being completed.
“the UK government chose to publish the report without the completion of the full process” — The National
The Telegraph organisation
The Telegraph was the target of the bid and was later sold to Axel Springer.
“German media giant Axel Springer bought the Telegraph for £575 million earlier this year” — Evening Standard
Middle East1 outlet
The National, owned by IMI, presents IMI's rejection of the report and defends its editorial independence.
“IMI’s media assets include The National and Sky News Arabia.” — The National
The National
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Evening Standard foregrounds Ofcom's press-freedom concerns and UK–UAE political context.
“The reports pointed to concerns over the potential ownership of the Telegraph Media Group by RedBird IMI” — Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Abu Dhabi's IMI rejects UK Ofcom report into Telegraph bid
Critical Reports IMI's rebuttal at length and in its own words, with a supportive outside voice, framing the Ofcom report as biased and its publication as damaging to investment; the outlet belongs to IMI.
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Telegraph takeover by UAE-backed group would have risked press freedom – Ofcom
Neutral Report of the Ofcom and CMA findings on press freedom, with UAE ownership links and the UK–UAE diplomatic context.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 09:25 First The NationalN Abu Dhabi's IMI rejects UK Ofcom report into Telegraph bid
- 16 Oct 11:34 +2h 9m Evening StandardN Telegraph takeover by UAE-backed group would have risked press freedom – Ofcom
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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