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| BSkyB News Corp bid: Ofcom calls for Competition review | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The UK media watchdog Ofcom has said that News Corporation's takeover bid for broadcaster BSkyB should be referred back to the Competition Commission, the BBC has learned. | The UK media watchdog Ofcom has said that News Corporation's takeover bid for broadcaster BSkyB should be referred back to the Competition Commission, the BBC has learned. |
| Our business editor Robert Peston says it wants an inquiry into whether the £7.5bn deal would restrict choice for British viewers and readers. | Our business editor Robert Peston says it wants an inquiry into whether the £7.5bn deal would restrict choice for British viewers and readers. |
| Ofcom's report was issued to the Department for Culture Media and Sport on the last day of 2010. | Ofcom's report was issued to the Department for Culture Media and Sport on the last day of 2010. |
| It has not been formally published. | It has not been formally published. |
| The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, asked Ofcom to advise whether the plans would restrict the range of UK media voices. | The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, asked Ofcom to advise whether the plans would restrict the range of UK media voices. |
| However the prime minister passed responsibility for a final ruling to the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, after Mr Cable was recorded by undercover journalists saying he had "declared war" on News Corporation's owner, Rupert Murdoch. | However the prime minister passed responsibility for a final ruling to the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, after Mr Cable was recorded by undercover journalists saying he had "declared war" on News Corporation's owner, Rupert Murdoch. |
| Mr Murdoch's company, an international media giant which owns UK newspapers the Sun, News of the World, the Times and Sunday Times, already has a 39% stake in BSkyB, but is attempting to buy the remainder. | Mr Murdoch's company, an international media giant which owns UK newspapers the Sun, News of the World, the Times and Sunday Times, already has a 39% stake in BSkyB, but is attempting to buy the remainder. |
| Rival media owners, including the heads of the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail groups, the BBC, BT and Channel 4, complained the move could have "serious and far-reaching consequences for media plurality". | Rival media owners, including the heads of the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail groups, the BBC, BT and Channel 4, complained the move could have "serious and far-reaching consequences for media plurality". |
| Last week The Guardian reported that Mr Hunt had been holding talks with BSkyB since receiving the Ofcom report - something our business editor said may be seen as "odd" by some. | Last week The Guardian reported that Mr Hunt had been holding talks with BSkyB since receiving the Ofcom report - something our business editor said may be seen as "odd" by some. |
| And while Mr Hunt does have the discretion to ignore Ofcom's recommendation that a lengthier and more detailed Competition Commission probe is needed, it is unlikely he would in fact do that, he added. | And while Mr Hunt does have the discretion to ignore Ofcom's recommendation that a lengthier and more detailed Competition Commission probe is needed, it is unlikely he would in fact do that, he added. |
| The bid has already been approved by the EU, which said it would not "significantly impede" competition in Europe. | The bid has already been approved by the EU, which said it would not "significantly impede" competition in Europe. |