You have to pity the media regulators who spent 18 months assessing whether 21st Century Fox (US:FOX) (and, by default, the Murdoch family) would be a suitable new owner for Sky (SKY). Six bids, two years and a European investigation later and it’s Comcast (US:CMCSA) that has won the UK company. The Murdochs, meanwhile, are trailing out of the picture – Fox is in the process of being taken over by Walt Disney (US:DIS).
The outcome means Brian Roberts (chief executive at Comcast) has finally trumped his old foe, Bob Iger (Disney’s boss) – the two media moguls have battled for domination of the US television space since Mr Iger thwarted Mr Robert’s attempt to by Disney in 2004. The former got one up on his nemesis earlier this year when he managed to nab Fox from under Comcast’s nose. No doubt Mr Roberts would like to think he’s evened the playing field by winning Sky.