Rupert Murdoch’s €13bn bid for Sky faces scrutiny

The UK intends to subject Rupert Murdoch’s takeover of European pay-TV group Sky to a lengthy in-depth investigation after finding the $15bn (€13.2bn) deal risks giving the media mogul too much power over the news agenda.

British media secretary Karen Bradley said she was persuaded that Twenty-First Century Fox’s bid could give the Murdoch family excessive influence over the media, after regulator Ofcom assessed the impact of the deal.

“The proposed entity would have the third largest total reach of any news provider, lower only than the BBC and ITN, and would, uniquely, span news coverage on television, radio, in newspapers and online,” said Bradley.