Murdoch Brothers Hold Talks With Ofcom CEO Regarding Sky Takeover

The Murdoch brothers have held "secret talks" with Ofcom "in a bid to persuade" the U.K. communications regulator to "wave through" 21st Century Fox's planned £11.7B ($15.1B) takeover of Sky, according to Christopher Williams of the London TELEGRAPH. It is understood that Ofcom CEO Sharon White "met James and Lachlan Murdoch in London in the last week to discuss the proposed deal." Rupert Murdoch, their father, was not present. Both sides have "sought to keep the meeting out of the public eye amid swirling political controversy." The meeting is "part of normal scrutiny procedures" but comes with the Murdoch family "facing new questions" over behavior at its companies. Ofcom is conducting an "in-depth review of the effect full Fox control could have on Sky and the British media." In a separate but parallel review, the family's fitness and propriety as media owners is also "under the microscope" (TELEGRAPH, 5/31).