Rupert Murdoch's proposed takeover of Sky has been "met with further delays after the government asked the media regulator to conduct further analysis" on Murdoch and his company's "adherence to broadcasting standards," according to Graham Ruddick of the London GUARDIAN. The statement from the U.K. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport comes after the government and Ofcom "faced calls to deepen their investigation into the Murdoch family's suitability to buy Sky" after allegations that Fox News "colluded with the White House on a story that contained fabricated quotes." Fox is controlled by Murdoch and his sons, Lachlan and James. On Tuesday, the DDCMS said that it had received submissions that raise "new evidence and/or comment" about Ofcom's assessment of the £11.7B ($15.2B) takeover and was "seeking further clarification" from the regulator. Ofcom has reportedly "been asked for its comments on a range of broadcasting standards issues raised," not that one "particular piece of evidence has transformed the government's view" of the deal. A group of "high-profile" MPs, including former Labour Leader Ed Miliband, said that the allegations regarding the Fox News story suggested a "brazen disregard for the ethics of journalism" and showed new compliance procedures at the company had "failed dismally." The MPs "have also claimed that there are grounds to launch a judicial review against Ofcom" (GUARDIAN, 8/8).
