The inquiry will make recommendations on media plurality, regulation and cross-media ownership by July 2012.

BBC: Culture questions and Commons commission questions

Cross-media ownership is permitted within limits - press groups may own up to 25% of local radio and TV stations.

BBC: Ireland country profile

Because the rate of technological change is so rapid, the intention is to give the new regulator more discretion and rely less on primary legislation such as the 15% limit on any one television company's share of the audience and the equally arbitrary cross-media ownership rules to choreograph the market.

ECONOMIST: Regulating communications