A timeline of the events relating to News Corporation's bid for the remainder of BSkyB
Created by rachelmcathy on Jan 25, 2011
Last updated: 01/25/11 at 05:17 AM
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Hunt announces that, following News Corp's challenge, he still intends to refer the bid to the Competition Commission, but will first allow "undertakings in lieu" that may "alleviate" media plurality concerns.
Hunt meets with News Corp again to hear oral representations on the aspects of the report they have challenged.
BBC business editor Robert Peston reports that the recommendation from Ofcom is to put News Corp’s BSkyB bid to the Competition Commission.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2011/01/ofcom_says_news_corps_sky_bid.html
News Corp provide written representations challenging elements of Ofcom's report
Hunt meets with Ofcom to "seek clarification on a number of aspects of their report".
Jeremy Hunt writes to News Corp enclosing the full Ofcom report, to inform them that he is minded to refer the bed to the competition commission but will receive written and oral representations from the company if they wish to present a challenge.
Jeremy Hunt meets with representatives from News Corp to explain Ofcom's conclusions and set out the process he would follow.
Ofcom sends report on the public interest issues relating to News Corporation’s proposed acquisition of BSkyB to Jeremy Hunt, recommending referral to the Competition Commission
The Office of Fair Trading sets out the reasons why it believes the Secretary of State has jurisdiction and is able to exercise the power to make a reference to the Competition Commission, to address any media plurality concerns arising from the merger.
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt is given responsibility to make a decision on News Corp's bid for BSkyB, following comments made by business secretary Vince Cable to undercover journalists.
The European Commission approves the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/press_releases/2010/pr10133_en.htm
Business secretary Cable is stripped of the responsibility for making a decision over News Corp's bid for BSkyB following comments he made to undercover reporters from the Telegraph.
Due to the size of the acquisition the European Commission will also investigate the proposal on the grounds of competition and will announce its own decision by 8 December.
Following a formal notification of a proposal by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to bid for the 60.9 per cent of BSkyB that it does not already own, Vince Cable issues intervention notice ordering Ofcom to investigate the impact on media plurality.
Business secretary Vince Cable orders Ofcom to investigate the impact on media plurality of News Corporation's proposal to acquire the remaining shares of BSkyB.
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/cable-intervenes-in-news-corp-bid-for-bskyb/s2/a541361/
The National Union of Journalists calls on people to sign a petition pledging support to the business secretary if he decides to intervene in News Corporation's rumoured plans to bid for full ownership of BSkyB.
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/nuj-calls-for-more-support-in-campaign-against-murdoch/s2/a540633/
Claire Enders, founder of Enders Analysis wrote to business secretary Vince Cable arguing that News Corp's proposed purchase of the 60.9 per cent of BSkyB it does not own would risk "a reduction in media plurality to an unacceptably low level".
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/rupert-murdoch-s-bid-for-sky-should-be-blocked-vince-cable-told/s2/a540556/
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