Competition Commission delays Sky-ITV inquiry

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 17-Sep-07, 13:45

LONDON - The Competition Commission has extended its investigation of BSkyB's acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV by eight weeks after deciding it could not meet its original November 7 deadline.

The group investigating the case said after receiving a "large amount of evidence from many parties which has required a substantial amount of analysis" it has concluded it needs more time to deliver its verdict.

It is known to be taking into account the whole of Rupert Murdoch's media empire and not just Sky. Murdoch recently complete his $5bn takeover of Dow Jones, owner of The Wall Street Journal.

The case was originally referred to the Competition Commission by Alistair Darling, the then secretary of state for trade and industry, on May 24 after Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading raised concerns about the impact of Sky's move on the plurality of news provision and competition in the broadcast sector.

The Department for Trade and Industry was replaced at the end of June with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, headed by John Hutton. Darling is now the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The new deadline for the commission to report back to the department is January 2.