A UK watchdog has temporarily blocked media tycoon Rupert Murdoch’s bid to take over Sky amid concerns it is “not in the public interest,” as it would grant his family too much control of British media.
The decision was greeted with widespread support on social media, with people hailing the move as the “right” choice amid claims 86-year-old Murdoch is detrimental to public debate.
The UK’s media regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said 21st Century Fox’s £11.7 billion (US$16 billion) bid for the complete takeover of Sky is “not in the public interest” due to concerns over media plurality.
The Murdoch family, which already owns 39 percent of Sky, is in control of Fox and News Corp, as well as owning the Sun and the Times, among other publications.
The CMA’s investigation found the deal would give Murdoch “too much control over news providers across all media platforms, and therefore too much influence over public opinion and the political agenda.”
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson, who has a long history of challenging the Murdochs, was among the many who took to Twitter to praise the watchdog’s findings.
The Competition and Markets Authority is right to say that the Fox takeover of Sky would give the Murdoch family too much power. This is the right decision for the UK.
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) January 23, 2018
This was echoed by Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable, who said the move will keep Murdoch’s family from “dominating” the British press.
Ruling of competition watchdog @CMAgovUK opposing @20thcenturyfox takeover of Sky vindicates 8 year campaign to support media plurality and stop Murdoch family dominance of our #Media
— Vince Cable (@vincecable) January 23, 2018
His sentiment was echoed by journalist and author Paul Mason, who tweeted:
The Competition and Markets Authority is right to say that the Fox takeover of Sky would give the Murdoch family too much power. This is the right decision for the UK.
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) January 23, 2018
Labour peer Lord Falconer, who was chancellor during former PM Tony Blair’s administration, commented saying the decision goes to show how the watchdog realized Murdoch is “bad” for public debate.
Hugely significant ruling by Competition and Markets Authority. Murdochs UK media empire can’t get any bigger if this ruling confirmed. Regulators recognise that more Murdoch is bad for public debate. Rest of world will follow. https://t.co/OgPrPVV2nc
— Charlie Falconer (@LordCFalconer) January 23, 2018
Drawing on the CMA’s claim that the takeover would fall short of being in the public interest, one user mockingly wrote:
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