Comcast bid for Sky will not be sent for scrutiny

The UK government has said it does not intend to refer Comcast’s £22 billion bid for Sky to competition authorities, raising the possibility of 21st Century Fox’s rival offer being sidelined.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said that while he had the powers to intervene in the media merger, he did not believe the deal would raise public interest concerns.

“Having reviewed the relevant evidence available, I can confirm that I have written to the parties to inform them that I am minded not to issue a European intervention notice on the basis that the merger does not raise concerns in relation to public interest considerations which would meet the threshold for intervention,” he said.