Independent: ‘Plurality of Persons Controlling Media’ Potentially Challenged by Murdoch Sky Takeover

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said it would be assessing the proposed Sky takeover by Rupert Murdoch, as the acquisition could leave too much of Britain’s media in the hands of too few people. The Independent reports:

The UK’s competition watchdog has specified the terms of its investigation into the proposed £11.7bn takeover of Sky by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, elaborating that it will focus on the impact of media plurality as well as on broadcasting standards.

At the end of September, Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, referred the proposed deal to the Competition and Markets Authority on public-interest grounds.

The CMA now has six months – until 6 March – to report back to Ms Bradley with its recommendations.

“Today we set out the scope of our investigation and the issues on which we will focus,” said Anne Lambert, panel chair at the CMA said on Tuesday.

The CMA added it would be assessing whether there will be “a sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprises serving audiences in the UK following the transaction”.

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