Ofcom submits additional advice on Fox-Sky bid

Ofcom has submitted additional advice on the proposed merger between 21st Century Fox and Sky to the UK government.

The broadcast regulator made the submission at the end of last week to secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, Karen Bradley, with the advice due to be published “in due course”.

The move comes after Bradley requested “advice and clarification” earlier this month in light of representations made in relation to the proposed merger.

“The Secretary of State will now carefully consider that advice before making her decision on referral on the basis of all the evidence before her, and will do so as soon as is reasonably practicable,” said the government in a statement.

The government said earlier this month that the submissions “raise new evidence” and asked Ofcom to take a fresh look at the deal, with a view to seeking “further clarification” on some of these points.

Bradley said in July that she had pushed back a decision on whether to refer 21st Century Fox’s acquisition of Sky, but said it was highly likely the bid would be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority on the grounds of media plurality.