How the Disney-Fox deal puts US antitrust enforcers in a tricky position
There are political undercurrents of media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s control of Trump-friendly Fox News
Washington — The blockbuster deal between Walt Disney and 21st Century Fox is likely to put US antitrust enforcers in an awkward position following the government’s challenge to another media-entertainment megadeal. The $52bn deal would give Disney the prized Fox television and film studios, international TV operations, US cable entertainment and regional sports channels from the empire that has been created by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Under the deal, Murdoch would maintain control of the President Donald Trump-friendly Fox News Channel. The deal has sparked concerns about too much concentration of power, giving Disney about 40% of US box office revenues and a large chunk of television entertainment as well as sports channels. But complicating any review are the political ties and well-known friendship between Trump and Murdoch, with the two men even discussing the transaction in a phone call. Another twist is that the deal comes just weeks after the Trump administration’s justic...
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