The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has told the Commons that no further undertakings have been received from 21st Century Fox in connection with its proposed takeover of Sky.
Karen Bradley confirmed she had received representations from 21st Century Fox, a letter from Sky and a letter from Lachlan and James Murdoch ahead of last Friday’s deadline. She also subsequently received a second letter from the Murdochs on Monday of this week.
On Thursday the Secretary of State said she needed more time to fully consider the representations she had received. “Unless new evidence from other representations changes my mind in the coming weeks the bid will therefore be referred to a Phase 2 review on at least one ground – media plurality. I thought it would be helpful to set out my current view to the House – given the public interest in this case – and also to the parties so they can be clear as possible about my intentions and the likely next steps for this bid.”
In June, Ms Bradley said she was minded to refer Fox’s £11.7 billion takeover of Sky to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) amid concern over media plurality.
