I have received a number of e-mails regarding the proposed merger of Sky plc and 21st Century Fox, Inc. I have written to the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and have received the below response.
“On Thursday 16 March in a statement to Parliament I confirmed that I am intervening in the merger on the media public interest grounds of plurality and commitment to broadcasting standards. This followed the announcement that I was minded to intervene, which was made public on Friday 3 March and notified to Parliament on Monday 6 March.
My decision to intervene at this stage is not a final determination that the merger operates against the public interest. Rather, it begins the process whereby Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will now prepare a report on the public interests specified and jurisdictional issues respectively. They both have 40 working days, by midnight Tuesday 16 May, to complete and submit these reports and, during this period, can take representations on the merger.
My decision making role is therefore currently paused and will resume upon receipt of these reports. However, the quasi-judicial nature of my role continues during this time and, as such, I am unable to comment substantively on the matters of this case.”
December 2016