Hunt delays decision on News Corp bid January 25, 2011 CULTURE minister Jeremy Hunt has stalled his decision over the future of News Corp’s £7.8bn bid for Sky. Hunt says he will give News Corp more time to prove its bid will not have an adverse affect on media plurality before referring it to the Competition Commission. Media watchdog Ofcom has filed a report highlighting [...]
WHAT THE TWO SIDES SAY January 25, 2011 Sky “Ofcom’s analysis is deficient. The deal will have minimal impact on consumers and would not enhance News Corporation’s ability to influence the news” “News Corp alleges that Ofcom did not have an open mind when considering the issue of plurality. This allegation is without foundation.” TIME LINE | TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE BID [...]
Government warns News Corp over BSkyB bid probe January 25, 2011 The government said it was thinking about referring News Corp’s proposed £7.5bn buyout of BSkyB for a prolonged investigation. The media regulator had examined the deal over fears it would give News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch too much influence over the media and public opinion. The government said that Ofcom had recommended that the deal should [...]
Police look at Brown claims January 23, 2011 THE News of the World phone-hacking scandal continued to gather pace yesterday, with Gordon Brown asking police to investigate whether he was targeted. The former Prime Minister expressed concerns his messages may have been intercepted between 2005 and 2007, when he was chancellor. Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne ramped up pressure on News [...]
BT told to lower prices January 20, 2011 BT came under fire yesterday as telecoms regulator Ofcom said it should make “significant reductions” to the wholesale price of its broadband to boost internet uptake in rural areas. Ofcom has proposed BT cut the price it charges other internet service providers to lease its broadband infrastructure by more than ten per cent in areas [...]
Independent trust could run Sky News to ease News Corp takeover January 20, 2011 News Corp could set up an independent body to run Sky News in a bid to smooth the way for its £7.8bn Sky bid. Critics of the bid say media plurality would be harmed if Rupert Murdoch’s firm snaps up the 61 per cent of Sky it does not already own. Culture and media secretary [...]
Sky News could be sold January 19, 2011 News Corp could be prepared to dispose of Sky News or other assets to smooth its path to taking full control of BSkyB, it emerged last night. Rupert Murdoch’s media group has approached the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the body responsible for approving the takeover of BSkyB, with a range of options [...]
Competition Commission called on bid for BSkyB January 13, 2011 MARKET regulator Ofcom has recommended a full Competition Commission enquiry into the approach for British Sky Broadcasting by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp should take place, according to reports. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport received the regulator’s report on the impact on media plurality the £7.5bn deal could have on the 31 December last [...]
How to ensure you get the best value deal for your mobile phone January 12, 2011 IT’S ALMOST a cliché that when you are trying to negotiate your mobile phone bill down you should threaten to leave the company, and insist to be put through to the retentions department, where deals can be struck. These days things are more complex. A few years ago when pay-as-you-go or 12-month contracts were the [...]
News Corp calls off MPs’ meeting January 10, 2011 RUPERT Murdoch’s News Corporation, which is attempting to buy the 61 per cent shares in BSkyB it does not already own, has cancelled a meeting it was due to hold with the influential Culture, Media and Sport select committee tomorrow. Sources close to News Corp, whose proposed deal is under intense scrutiny, said the media [...]