Business Standard

Rupert Murdoch at crossroads as he plots next move in Sky takeover

Offering concessions will make his takeover bid less attractive or gambling to get through review

Rupert Murdoch
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Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of News Corp and 21st Century Fox. Photo: Reuters

Joe Mayes & David Hellier | Bloomberg
Rupert Murdoch faces a tough choice over the next two weeks: Offering more concessions that will make his $15.2-billion bid for UK pay-TV broadcaster Sky Plc slightly less attractive, or gambling that he can get it through a perilous six-month regulatory review.
 
Both options have drawbacks. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has already rejected proposals from Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox Inc intended to safeguard editorial independence at Sky News once the US company takes full ownership and increase its financial commitment to the operation.
 
Strengthening those measures would cost Murdoch money and post-deal influence.
 
The alternative is sending it back

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