Johnston boss: 'Limit BBC's local web stories'

Regional newspaper groups will not be able to charge for digital content unless the BBC local ambitions are controlled, John Fry, chief executive of Johnston Press, tells the Daily Telegraph today.

Fry says he has written to the BBC Trust calling for it to limit the number of local stories it can publish on the internet in a geographical area to no more than three stories per region or city . The Telegraph says his demand comes as he wants the group to introduce more paid-for digital content but claims the BBC could prove a stumbling block to Johnston's efforts.

"We've not got a response yet, as it is part of a wider review. The danger is that it could be pushed into the long grass," Fry tells the Telegraph.

The Telegraph adds: "High on his agenda is deciding whether to follow some national newspapers and launch paywalls on regional newspaper websites, with the popular scotsman.com an obvious target. He says that this is something that is being considered, but he is waiting for greater penetration of internet-enabled devices such as iPads and iPods."

Fry says once iPhone penetration grows, there will be significant take-up for local news apps that offer anything from local library and cinema times to speed camera locations.