Post by Teddy Bear on Oct 8, 2010 19:23:20 GMT
The BBC is very worried at how big Sky might get, and what influence they will wield if Murdoch wins his bid to take it over completely. Since the BBC can't compete with its quality or business acumen, they endeavour to block the takeover.
Thompson claims that he's concerned that the takeover might lead to an 'abuse of power'. I would say he feels it as a threat to the existing BBC's ABUSE OF POWER.
Thompson claims that he's concerned that the takeover might lead to an 'abuse of power'. I would say he feels it as a threat to the existing BBC's ABUSE OF POWER.
'Abuse of power': BBC director general Mark Thompson calls for Vince Cable to intervene in Murdoch's bid for whole of Sky
By Liz Thomas
Last updated at 6:32 PM on 8th October 2010
BBC director general Mark Thompson has called for business secretary Vince Cable to intervene in Rupert Murdoch’s bid to wholly own BSkyB, warning of the potential for 'abuse of power'.
Thompson hit out at the proposed takeover of the satellite broadcaster by Murdoch’s News Corporation, which currently has a 39 per cent stake.
Speaking during an interview with presenter Charlie Rose on American public service channel PBS he said the move to purchase the remaining 61 per cent from investors would lead to a 'significant loss of plurality in the media market'.
Warning: BBC director general Mark Thompson has claimed that Rupert Murdoch's bid to wholly own BSkyB could lead to an 'abuse of power'
News Corporation owns four British national newspapers and it is feared that allowing it to wholly own BSkyB could make the firm too dominant over UK media.
Thompson said: ‘We're not saying there's been a crime committed here. What we're saying is there is – given the scale of the potential ownership in UK media – there's a strong case for looking at it systemically and deciding whether or not anything needs to be done to address the issue.
‘If the two [News Corp and Sky] were combined, there might be a significant loss of plurality in our media market.’
As business secretary Cable has the right to halt or intervene on a deal if he feels it is not in the public interest.
Thompson added: ‘Cable, the relevant minister, will decide whether he wants to refer this. It's not that they've done anything wrong. It's just that there is a potential of an abuse of power.’
News Corp is expected to formally notify the European Commission about its intention to bid for Sky in the next fortnight.
If the offer is successful it will have to go through a regulatory process that will involve media regulator Ofcom and the Competition Commission.
The relationship between the BBC and News Corp has deteriorated in recent years.
Murdoch’s son James delivered a scathing attack on the corporation in a speech in 2009, accusing it of ‘creeping commercialism’ and branding its ambitions to move into new areas as ‘chilling’.
Thompson used a speech this year to hit back arguing the Murdoch empire had grown too powerful.
By Liz Thomas
Last updated at 6:32 PM on 8th October 2010
BBC director general Mark Thompson has called for business secretary Vince Cable to intervene in Rupert Murdoch’s bid to wholly own BSkyB, warning of the potential for 'abuse of power'.
Thompson hit out at the proposed takeover of the satellite broadcaster by Murdoch’s News Corporation, which currently has a 39 per cent stake.
Speaking during an interview with presenter Charlie Rose on American public service channel PBS he said the move to purchase the remaining 61 per cent from investors would lead to a 'significant loss of plurality in the media market'.
Warning: BBC director general Mark Thompson has claimed that Rupert Murdoch's bid to wholly own BSkyB could lead to an 'abuse of power'
News Corporation owns four British national newspapers and it is feared that allowing it to wholly own BSkyB could make the firm too dominant over UK media.
Thompson said: ‘We're not saying there's been a crime committed here. What we're saying is there is – given the scale of the potential ownership in UK media – there's a strong case for looking at it systemically and deciding whether or not anything needs to be done to address the issue.
‘If the two [News Corp and Sky] were combined, there might be a significant loss of plurality in our media market.’
As business secretary Cable has the right to halt or intervene on a deal if he feels it is not in the public interest.
Thompson added: ‘Cable, the relevant minister, will decide whether he wants to refer this. It's not that they've done anything wrong. It's just that there is a potential of an abuse of power.’
News Corp is expected to formally notify the European Commission about its intention to bid for Sky in the next fortnight.
If the offer is successful it will have to go through a regulatory process that will involve media regulator Ofcom and the Competition Commission.
The relationship between the BBC and News Corp has deteriorated in recent years.
Murdoch’s son James delivered a scathing attack on the corporation in a speech in 2009, accusing it of ‘creeping commercialism’ and branding its ambitions to move into new areas as ‘chilling’.
Thompson used a speech this year to hit back arguing the Murdoch empire had grown too powerful.
