A sports betting business formed in 2001 was today valued at £800m after broadcaster Sky sold a controlling stake in the operation.

BSkyB is to change its name to Sky after the pay-TV company completed the acquisition of Sky Italia and a majority interest in Sky Deutschland.

BSkyB bolstered its pay-TV empire today with the €6.7bn takeover of sister companies in Italy and Germany.

The independent producer behind the BBC’s hit show The Great British Bake-Off has been snapped up by BSkyB.

BSkyB’s plan to buy Rupert Murdoch’s pay-TV assets in Italy and Germany for up to €10bn is a bold bet on long-term growth at the expense of short-term profit, but the pioneering British media firm has pulled off such gambles before.

Broadcaster BSkyB is in talks over a deal that will expand its pay-TV empire in Europe through the acquisition of Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia.

Missing your favourite TV programme just because you are out of the country could become a thing of the past as the EU opens an investigation into restrictions.

James Murdoch relinquished control of his family’s British newspaper empire yesterday, stepping down as executive chairman of News International.

James Murdoch is to step down as executive chairman of News International to focus on expanding international TV businesses, the company announced today.