NEWS CORP BID TO ACQUIRE BSKYB

In June of 2010, News Corp made a move to acquire 61% of British Sky Broadcasting, the largest satellite broadcast company in the UK, which would give it full control over BSkyB. The acquisition process was slowed by regulatory issues as well as concerns over possible Foxification of news in the UK, and Media Matters launched a campaign in March to encourage British citizens to sign on to a statement to Jeremy Hunt, the secretary of state for culture, ministry and sports.

Since News Corp made its first bid for BSkyB, the share price had skyrocketed, and it looked likely that the acquisition would cost News Corp. shareholders more than two billion more than initially imagined. In light of serious escalation of the phone hacking scandal in early July 2011, however, the share price of BSkyB dropped significantly, plummeting further when News Corp. retracted its bid for the company.

Even before the phone hacking scandal stirred such outrage across the globe,groups such as Avaaz.org and 38 Degrees brought the issue of this takeover into the public arena, focusing on concerns about Rupert Murdoch's "media empire" and potential Foxification of British media.

On July 13, 2011, in the wake of the phone hacking scandal, News Corp. withdrew its bid for BSkyB, just minutes before members of Parliament were set to vote on a resolution stating that withdrawing the bid would be in the public's interest.