BSkyB Comments on Potential Acquisition of German and Italian Pay-TV Services from 21st Century Fox

A Sky TV customer. Photo: BSkyB

[Via Satellite 05-13-2014] British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) has responded to speculation on its potential acquisition of Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia from 21st Century Fox. The entertainment and communications company expressed its plans to expand the company’s business in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and, as part of this plan, held preliminary discussions with 21st Century Fox on the acquisition of its pay-TV operations in Germany and Italy. These discussions remain at a preliminary stage, and no agreement has been reached at this point.

A potential agreement could be influenced by several factors, such as the Sky Deutschland share price, which continues to trade in an undisturbed state. BSkyB’s main concern in respect to Sky Deutschland would be the need to acquire 21st Century Fox’s controlling stake of 57 percent. Consequently, to comply with German legislation, BSkyB would have to make a takeover offer to the public minority of Sky Deutschland.