CMA

Boost for Comcast’s Sky bid as Hancock ‘not minded’ to intervene

Comcast has received a boost in its bid for Sky as UK secretary of state for culture, media and sport Matt Hancock has said he is “not minded” to intervene. While the UK Enterprise Act grants Hancock the power to intervene in media mergers on public interest ground, he said that the evidence presented so […]

21st Century Fox promises independent board for Sky News

21st Century Fox has promised a fully-independent board for Sky News and insulation of the service from possible editorial interference from the Murdoch family in a bid to secure approval for its planned takeover of Sky. Fox’s proposal for a fully-independent board for the UK news channel goes a step beyond an earlier pledge to […]

Sky threatens to cut Sky News ties to ease Fox deal

Sky has threatened to review its ownership of Sky News if were to impede Fox’s planned £18.5 billion (€20.5 billion) takeover of the pay TV provider. In a statement made to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last month, but published yesterday, Sky said that the CMA should not “simply assume” its continued provision of […]

CMA details scope of Fox-Sky investigation in issues statement

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published an issues statement outlining the scope of its investigation into 21st Century Fox’s planned ￡18.5 billion (€20.5 billion) takeover of Sky. The CMA, which will investigate the deal on the grounds of media plurality and broadcasting standards, set out the main issues it likely to consider in […]

CMA names investigation group for Fox-Sky deal

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has appointed the investigation group that will put together its report into 21st Century Fox’s planned £18.5 billion (€20.5 billion) takeover of Sky. Anne Lambert will chair the group. She was appointed panel chair and panel member non-executive director of the CMA in October 2016, having been an inquiry chair […]

Confirmed: Sky deal referred to regulator for six-month review

The UK government has confirmed that 21st Century Fox’s planned £18.5 billion (€20.5 billion) takeover of Sky will be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority. Culture secretary Karen Bradley announced her final decision today, after saying earlier this week that she was minded to refer the deal over concerns about both broadcasting standards and […]

Bradley minded to refer Sky deal over broadcasting standards

Karen Bradley has said she is “minded” to refer the proposed merger between 21st Century Fox and Sky to regulators over concerns about broadcasting standards. The UK culture secretary previously said she intended to refer 21st Century Fox’s £18.5 billion (€20.5 billion) takeover of Sky to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the grounds of […]

Ofcom could face judicial review over ‘fit and proper’ Sky ruling

Ofcom could face a judicial review of its ruling that Sky would remain a “fit and proper” holder of a UK broadcast licence if 21st Century Fox’s bid to take control of the pay TV operator is given the green light. Advocacy group Avaaz has hired lawyers Hausfeld to present a ‘letter before claim’ to […]

Fox faces Sky delay as government calls on Ofcom to look at ‘new evidence’

The UK government has said that submissions made in relation to 21st Century Fox’s planned acquisition of Sky “raise new evidence” and has asked media regulator Ofcom to take a fresh look at the deal. The UK department for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) said a number of representations made to it “raise new […]

Fox’s Sky takeover set for UK watchdog probe

21st Century Fox’s £11.7 billion (€13.2 billion) takeover of European pay TV operator Sky is likely to be referred to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. The UK government’s secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Karen Bradley, made the surprise announcement earlier today after consulting with media regulator Ofcom. She pointed to “material […]

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