Delay to News Corp’s BSkyB bid approval

The Government may not be ready to approve News Corp’s proposed £8.6bn bid for BSkyB for weeks, as details regarding a spin-off of Sky News are finalised, a source familiar with the matter said.

By The Newsroom

Published 10th May 2011, 09:28 BST

Culture minister Jeremy Hunt had signalled he would make a decision on whether to approve the proposal or refer it for investigation by another Government agency soon after a parliamentary recess ended on April 26.

But sources said details were still being ironed out and were unlikely be settled in the next couple of weeks.

The proposed offer to bring BSkyB fully into Rupert Murdoch’s media stable – News Corp already owns 39 per cent of the company – has stirred up strong feelings in the UK.

Earlier this year News Corp proposed to spin off 24-hour news channel Sky News to allay those concerns.

Mr Hunt said at the time he was minded to accept the remedy proposed by the US-based group.