On November 22, 2025, the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) announced it has struck a deal to buy The Telegraph for £500 million, a move poised to create a new powerhouse in British media. The agreement could conclude a two-year period of uncertainty for The Telegraph, but is expected to face rigorous regulatory scrutiny over concerns of reduced media plurality.
DMGT and the current owner, the RedBird IMI consortium, have entered a period of exclusivity to finalize the terms of the £500 million transaction. Both parties stated they expect the process, which includes preparing regulatory submissions, to "happen quickly".
Lord Rothermere, chairman of DMGT, expressed his long-standing admiration for The Telegraph, calling it "Britain's largest and best quality broadsheet". He pledged to provide resources for the newsroom and to expand the title into a global brand, similar to the Daily Mail's growth. DMGT has committed to maintaining The Telegraph's editorial independence from its other titles.
This agreement comes just a week after US-based RedBird Capital Partners withdrew its own £500 million bid for The Telegraph. A source close to RedBird indicated that "sustained internal opposition from senior figures within the Telegraph newsroom" was a factor in the decision to walk away.
The Telegraph's ownership saga began in 2023 when the Barclay family lost control of the publication due to unpaid debts. RedBird IMI, a joint venture between RedBird Capital and Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments (IMI), subsequently paid off the debts in hopes of taking ownership. However, the UK government introduced legislation to block foreign state ownership of British newspapers, effectively derailing that bid.
The creation of a large, right-leaning media organization has sparked significant concern, particularly within the ranks of the Labour government. Tom Baldwin, a former communications director for the Labour Party, warned that the merger would exacerbate a "dangerously homogenous, rightwing, angry point of view" in Britain's media.
A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will review the acquisition to ensure it protects the public interest and complies with legislation on media mergers and foreign state influence. The deal is likely to trigger an in-depth investigation by media regulator Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
DMGT has stated it is confident the regulatory process can be "concluded swiftly and positively". The company argued that the acquisition is "compelling" in a modern media landscape where publishers need scale to compete against global online platforms.
If approved, the deal would bring The Telegraph into DMGT's stable of media brands, which also includes the Mail on Sunday, Metro, The i Paper, and New Scientist.