UK: Politicians meet with regulator to block Sky takeover

Senior politicians have met Britain’s media regulator in a bid to block Rupert Murdoch’s takeover of Sky. MP and former Labour leader Ed Miliband confirmed that he sat down with Ofcom on Tuesday after filing a number of letters to the watchdog last month outlining opposition to the £11.7 billion deal.

“This morning Vince Cable [LibDems], Lord Falconer [Labour] and I set out to Ofcom why we believe on grounds of plurality and fitness and propriety the Sky bid should be blocked,” Mr Miliband said in a statement. “We drew attention in particular to the ongoing and developing scandals at Fox News which demonstrate yet again the tolerance of wrongdoing over many years and miserable failure of corporate oversight that characterises Murdoch-owned companies.”

The opposition comes amid controversy over sexual harassment allegations against former Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes and on-screen presenter Bill O’Reilly, both of whom have now left the broadcaster. Mr Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is aiming to seize control of the 61 per cent of Sky it does not already own and UK regulators have been given an extended deadline — now June 20 — to review the takeover bid, in light of the June 8th election.

Full Content: Belfast Telegraph

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