Thursday, July 14, 2011

Murdoch withdraws bid for BSkyB channel

The company News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch on Wednesday withdrew its offer to acquire all the shares of the British Channel to the growing reluctance BSkyB in the UK after the scandal of wiretaps conducted by journalists from one of their tabloids. "News Corporation withdrew its proposal," the group said in a statement, giving up and buying the 61% of the satellite television firm.

"Clearly it is too difficult to progress in this environment," said vice president of News Corporation, Chase Carey, in the note. The announcement came hours before the House of Commons voted a motion, supported by the major parties, which called on Murdoch to withdraw his bid because of the scandal of illegal wiretapping of the Sunday News of the World '.


The Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat, who make up the British government coalition, announced Tuesday its support for the motion, tabled by Labour. However, the US-based company will maintain its current 39% stake in BSkyB. Before the scandal of wiretaps of "News of the World", the intent of Murdoch taking over 100% of the shares of the company had already raised strong reservations in the UK the risk of monopoly.

News International, owned by News Corporation, has among other headers British newspapers The Times and The Sun ', in addition to the' News of the World ', which ceased publication last Sunday by the crisis of illegal wiretapping, practiced from 2002 to 2006. News Corporation's announcement came just five hours before the British Parliament voted against Rupert Murdoch's ambitions to seize the pay channel and when that transaction had already been brought before the Competition Commission.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, called the withdrawal of the bid as a decision "decent", while Labour's Ivan Lewis called it "a victory for Parliament." The eavesdropping scandal broke in 2006, but last week was amplified with the disclosure of which, as well as politicians, members of the royal family and celebrities, were tapped the phones of a murder victim, relatives of soldiers killed in combat and of victims of the 7-J.

Also, this week has been reported that other means of Murdoch could spy on the former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Elizabeth II, which has caused strong indignation in the United Kingdom.

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