Murdoch struggles to hold on to satellite bid

Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Monday urged media tycoon Rupert Murdoch to drop his bid for satellite broadcaster BSkyB amid the recent News of the World phone hacking scandal.

Reuters/Luke MacGregor

Murdoch flew into London on Sunday as calls mounted for the government to block his bid, which was originally set to go through in the coming days.

His News Corp. aims to take full control of BSkyB by acquiring the 61 per cent that he did not already own.

Clegg called on Murdoch to “reconsider” the bid, saying it would be “decent and sensible” to do so. This comes after the deputy PM met the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, who was allegedly targeted by the hacking.

Following the phone hacking allegations, the News of the World, which is owned by Murdoch, saw its final edition printed on Sunday.

Opposition leader Ed Miliband called for the proposed deal to be delayed until the ongoing police inquiry is over.

The idea that News Corp. “should be allowed to take over BSkyB, to get that 100 per cent stake, without the criminal investigation having been completed… frankly that just won’t wash with the public,” he told BBC television.