21st Century Fox is expected to formally notify the European Commission of its £11.7 billion Sky takeover within the next few days.
The Guardian reported Tuesday that the notification could come as soon as Thursday. It would then be the responsibility of the UK Culture Secretary to decide whether it is necessary to launch an investigation into Rupert Murdoch’s control of UK Media.
In December, Sky agreed to 21st Century Fox’s offer for the 61% of the satellite company it does not already own.
The interests comprise Sky’s TV platforms in the UK, Germany and Italy.
In July 2011 the then News Corp withdrew an earlier bid for Sky. At the time subsidiary News International was at the centre of a scandal over the interception of telephone messages of politicians, celebrities, and crucially, families involved in a number of high-profile cases including that of murdered teenager Milly Dowler.
