Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Murdoch, News Corp Give Up BSkyB Bid

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We knew it was over, but here’s the official announcement. Rupert Murdoch and News Corp have been forced to drop the quest to take over BSkyb in the UK. The phone hacking scandal is getting worse, from all reports. Is this the end? News Corp may always return in a couple of years. The public has a short memory. It all depends on how much worse this thing gets. Murdoch, by the way, may make an appearance in the Hamptons this weekend at a screening of a documentary his wife, Wendi, produced. That event should be the p.r. Armageddon of the summer. PS NY Post still ignoring the story, Foxnews.com burying it on web site.

NEWS CORPORATION WITHDRAWS PROPOSED OFFER FOR BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

News Corporation (“News Corp”) announces that it no longer intends to make an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC (“BSkyB”) not already owned by it.

Chase Carey, Deputy Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation, commented: “We believed that the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation would benefit both companies but it has become clear that it is too difficult to progress in this climate. News Corporation remains a committed long-term shareholder in BSkyB. We are proud of the success it has achieved and our contribution to it.”

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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