London — Rupert Murdoch has stepped up the pressure on Britain to approve his $14.5bn bid for Sky by offering to sell or legally separate Sky News, seeking to allay concerns about the 87-year-old mogul’s political influence. Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox said on Tuesday Sky News could be sold on to US rival Walt Disney or become a legally separate business within the Sky group. Fox agreed in December 2016 to buy the 61% of European pay-TV group Sky it does not already own, but the deal has been repeatedly delayed by the UK government and regulators. Fox had already promised that Sky’s 24-hour news service would remain independent under the control of Murdoch, but critics, including high-profile politicians, remain opposed due to Murdoch’s record of influence through owning The Sun and The Times newspapers. The delay enabled US cable company Comcast to gatecrash the deal in February by saying it would offer £12.50 a share to buy Sky, compared with Fox’s £10.75, although it has n...
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