End of the BBC? Government by Media Mogul

"Rupert Murdoch BSkyB takeover gets government go ahead." So who'll that benefit politically then

 

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has been given government approval for its controversial takeover of BSkyB.

The green light follows News Corp's offer to spin-off Sky News as an independent company.
The decision follows concerns about the concentration of media outlets in the hands of one organisation.
Rival UK media groups dismissed News Corp's offer as a "whitewash" and said they would "vigorously contest" the takeover.
News Corp, which owns the Sun, the News of the World, the Times and the Sunday Times, is looking to take over the 61% of BSkyB that it does not own.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he intended to accept News Corp's offer rather than refer the takeover to the Competition Commission.
Ofcom, the UK media regulator, had said the deal should be referred to the commission. The European Commission has already ruled there is no reason to oppose the takeover on competition grounds.
News Corp said it welcomed Mr Hunt's decision.
It said it noted Ofcom's opinion to the culture secretary that it considered that "the revised proposed undertakings would address [its] plurality concerns".

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• Why Jeremy Hunt is allowing BSkyB takeover

Opponents will have until 21 March to lodge any complaints.

A number of media groups have opposed the takeover, including the Guardian, Associated Newspapers, Trinity Mirror and the Telegraph.
"We shall be vigorously contesting this whitewash of a proposal during the consultation period, as well examining all legal options," they said in a joint statement.
'More independence' Mr Hunt, responsible for deciding whether to allow the takeover, said he believed News Corp's offer to hive off Sky News would "address concerns about media plurality".
"The undertakings offered would ensure that shareholdings in Sky News would remain unchanged, and indeed offer it more independence from New Corporation than it currently has," he said.

Takeover timeline

• June 2010: News Corporation bids to take over the 61% of BSkyB it doesn't already own
• Nov 2010: Business Secretary Vince Cable asks media regulator Ofcom to look at the potential impact of the deal on media plurality
• Dec 2010: Separately, the takeover gets approval by European regulators on competition grounds
• Dec: Vince Cable stripped of powers over the deal after being recorded saying he had "declared war" on Mr Murdoch
• 13 January 2011: Media watchdog Ofcom says the bid should be referred to the Competition Commission
• 25 January 2011: Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt recommends referral to Competition Commission, but gives News Corp time to make concessions
• 2 March 2011: BBC reports News Corp offers to spin-off Sky News
• 3 March 2011: Takeover gets government approval

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• 45. Rob
  
  
  The best thing anyone can do now is make sure they vote "YES" for the change to the voting system in May. Make sure the influence of media moguls like Murdoch is broken once and for all
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• 44. westhammer
  
  
  A potentially disgusting move by this fast fading government.What a huge sarcastic surprise it is that it wasn't directly referred to the Competition Commission.I do not see how the concessions made will have any impact on media plurality-from what I read,Murdoch will still have a huge influence/interest in Sky News?Really hope that the country comes out against this & the legal challenge succeeds