It is a process and it will continue, and the best way for this to happen is in the natural way that it is going. There is a period of change now, and hopefully it will settle down to some extent. This is important for TML, which will benefit from being part of a far more focused group. TML chief operating officer Lawrence Clark says this development provides exciting opportunities for TML, the owner of the Sunday Times, half of BDFM and various other publishing interests. Holding his cards close to his chest on TML's intentions with regard to newspapers, he says TML is always looking for opportunities to expand in newspapers, magazines and electronic media.
Opportunities are fairly limited, but they are there.
He believes there is now a good spread of ownership of the press. There has been criticism that since the Independent group, publisher of the bulk of SA's daily English newspapers including The Star, took over from Argus, the group has been slow on its feet. Independent is muddling along. And when Kagiso tied up with Perskor, it left Independent without an empowerment partner - Independent and Kagiso had been talking. With control vested in a foreign owner, an empowerment partner is seen as crucial to Independent's future success.