21st Century Fox takeover over Sky bid

As expected, campaigning website 38Degrees.org.uk has launched a petition in the hope of preventing Murdoch taking full control of Sky. As I type this, the petition is getting close to its 100,000 signature total.

38Degrees.org.uk - Stop Murdoch taking over Sky

While I have signed the petition, I doubt that it'll have much success. Online petitions are hit and miss, so while we have a communications regulator that has no teeth, and a very pro-business Tory government, unfortunately it seems very likely that Murdoch's Money Vultures will gain 100% ownership sometime next year.

As much as I despise Murdoch's print operations, I really don't see how Sky will change for the worst with 21st Century Fox in charge. Sky News despite dumbing down in some instances (The Pledge), still hasn't become Fox News with bleach blonde presenters pumping out Tory propaganda.

Ha! Unless Murdoch decides to hire Ailes to run SkyNews UK and SkyNews Australia. T&A Info. (Joke)

Sounds far too much like "F**k Sky 1" et al.

as expected ....

Rupert Murdoch's Sky bid to be investigated by UK regulator https://t.co/I3jTSADIq7

— Media Guardian (@mediaguardian) March 16, 2017

... there'd have been a right row if it wasn't

Thanks in no small way to 319,000 people who signed a major petition on a campaigning website, a crowdfunded advert in a national newspaper, leaflet hand outs in Westminster and a large mobile billboard. The Culture Secretary had very little choice in the matter!

No doubt they will go through the motions but the Tories are so far up the Murdochs' rear areas its bound to happen - unless a Max Mosely figure comes along and destroys the dirty digger and his family operations again.

21st Century Fox's bid for Sky has received EU approval - on the grounds that it would not raise competition concerns. Approval was unconditional.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/rupert-murdoch-21st-century-fox-sky-news-takeover-eu-approval-deal-a7672151.html

No real issue in Europe as such, there's very little press/broadcasting crossover between the Elements of the Fox empire, entirely different kettle of fish here, which is why Ofcom are involved.

BREAKING ...

Culture secretary Karen Bradley proposes referring Rupert Murdoch's £11.7bn bid to takeover Sky to the competition authorities

— Mark Sweney (@marksweney) June 29, 2017

Wasn't expecting that at all. Significant delay to the process now. My feeling was either a straight approval or an approval with conditions.

With a weakened minority Conservative government, it's no real surprise that this issue couldn't just be approved when there's public pressure against the takeover.

I still think it'll get through eventually with conditions.

The non-confidential version of Ofcom's report is now on their website:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/103621/decision-fit-proper.pdf