The new Secretary of State for Culture has given approval for the merger between 21st Century Fox and Sky Plc.
Although delivered in a written statement by Jeremy Wright, the actual decision process was overseen by his processor Matt Hancock, who on Monday was appointed Health Secretary.
Hancock had agreed with the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) report and their findings on public interest grounds relating to the influence of the Murdoch family on UK media. Undertakings to divest Sky News to Disney or to an alternative suitable buyer to potentially remedy the public interest concerns.
With Sky also a matter of interest for Comcast, Wright said it was now a matter for the Sky shareholders to decide whether to accept 21CF’s bid.
