Karen Bradley, the UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has confirmed that she has not yet decided whether to refer the proposed takeover of pay-television broadcaster Sky by media company 21st Century Fox to the Competition & Markets authority for a ‘phase two’ investigation.
Bradley, who has already said that she is “minded to” refer the deal to the watchdog due to concerns about media plurality, said today (Thursday) that, despite having received representations from various parties involved in the deal, nothing had led her to change her mind at this point.
However, in saying that she is still ploughing through the different documents that have been submitted, she added: “Given the consultation only closed on Friday, there has not been time to consider all the representations, and I am not in a position today to make my final decision on referral.
“What I can do, however, is confirm to the House that having carefully reviewed the parties’ representations, and in the absence of further proposed undertakings, I am currently still minded-to refer on the media plurality ground and still minded-not-to accept the undertakings in lieu of a reference.”
Bradley added: “I expect I will be in a position to come to a final decision on referral – including in respect of the broadcasting standard ground – in the coming weeks, and potentially during summer recess.”
Sky later released a statement to say it was “disappointed by this further delay.”
Fox has already received regulatory approval in all other required territories for its proposed takeover of Sky, a major sports broadcaster in Austria, Germany, Italy and the UK and Ireland. Fox is bidding to acquire the 61 per cent of Sky that it does not own.