UK regulator probes BSkyB ownership

Ofcom is widening an investigation into the ownership of UK pay TV operator BSkyB. The UK communications regulator has established a team to examine the evidence given at the Leveson inquiry into media ethics.

Much of the focus of that inquiry has been the alleged phone hacking by portions of the UK press and notably the now defunct News of the World, which was operated by News International. Its parent company, News Corp, is the largest single shareholder in BSkyB with a 39% stake and saw its efforts to take full control thwarted last year. James Murdoch was chairman of News International until last month while also serving as chairman of BSkyB.

Ofcom was already investigating the ownership of Sky in the wake of the phone-hacking allegations, but has now widened the scope of that probe, the Financial Times revealed today.