The Daily Mail is urging the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate Apple after claiming it has been unfairly excluded from Apple News, the most widely used news app in Britain.
In a submission to the regulator, the paper’s parent company DMG Media said Apple repeatedly blocked its attempts to join the app, despite its dominant role in distributing digital news. The publisher accused Apple of using inconsistent justifications to deny access, including claims that the Mail’s large readership and volume of articles might “overwhelm Apple’s ecosystem.”
Apple News’ Expanding Reach
Apple News comes pre-installed on iPhones and integrates headlines directly into the iOS operating system. That reach has made it a powerful driver of online traffic for publishers. According to industry data, more than one in four adults in the UK now use Apple News, putting it on par with Google as an indispensable gateway for readers.
The Mail argued that being excluded from the app puts it at a competitive disadvantage. It described Apple’s policies as “arbitrary and discriminatory,” insisting that publishers can no longer afford to stay off the platform if they want to remain viable in the digital news market.
Why the Mail Opted Out Initially
The relationship between Apple and the Mail has been complicated from the start. The publisher joined Apple News when the app launched in the United States in 2015 but later decided against participating in the UK rollout.
At the time, DMG Media worried that the platform would drain traffic from its own site, where it could directly control advertising revenue. It also reported that the U.S. trial had been “extremely disappointing,” generating little to no financial return.
However, as Apple News gained traction in Britain, the Mail reversed its position and sought to join. Despite that shift, Apple has not granted access.
Shifting Explanations From Apple
According to the Mail’s filing, Apple initially claimed it was not onboarding new publishers. Later, the tech giant suggested that only outlets contributing to overall growth — rather than competing with existing partners — would be considered.
Apple also raised concerns that the Mail’s size and strong audience engagement could disrupt the balance of the app. DMG Media rejected these explanations, arguing they show Apple is handpicking which voices appear on its platform instead of encouraging fair competition.
Power Dynamics in Digital Distribution
Critics say Apple’s role as both the maker of iPhones and the operator of Apple News gives it outsized influence over what content reaches users. Because the app is integrated into devices by default, many publishers see it as a near-essential distribution channel.
The CMA has already been investigating Apple under new competition rules but has not specifically targeted Apple News in its inquiries. The Mail hopes its submission will push regulators to consider how the app’s management impacts diversity in media.
Meanwhile, rival outlets such as The Telegraph are already part of Apple News+, Apple’s subscription-based news service, underscoring what the Mail views as an uneven playing field.
Google AI Adds to Industry Pressure
Apple is not the only tech company facing scrutiny from the Mail. Last month, DMG Media also raised concerns about Google’s new AI overviews, which summarize information from articles directly on search pages.
The publisher reported a dramatic fall in search referrals, with declines of up to 89 percent in some categories. Such drops highlight the vulnerability of news outlets that rely heavily on tech platforms to deliver readers.
Moving Toward Subscriptions
To counter declining traffic and digital advertising revenue, the Mail is restructuring its business model. In July, the company announced it would phase out the MailOnline brand, unifying its digital presence under the Daily Mail name. The aim is to streamline its website and app into one global platform.
As part of the overhaul, the company has set a goal of reaching one million paying digital subscribers within three years. The move signals a pivot toward reader revenue at a time when reliance on external platforms is proving increasingly risky.
The shift has not come without costs. The Mail has implemented multiple rounds of layoffs as it integrates its print and online operations into a seven-day newsroom model. Journalists across different teams have been affected, reflecting the broader upheaval in the media industry as publishers adjust to rapid technological changes.
The cuts underscore the pressures facing traditional outlets trying to stay competitive in a landscape dominated by tech giants.
